Polybius, Histories

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Book 11 - Chapter 22

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<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="dusi%5C">δυσὶ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fmasin">στρατηγήμασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="o%29ye%5C">ὀψὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenon">ποιούμενον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29cagwga%2Fs">ἐξαγωγάς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuas">Λίβυας</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="protiqe%2Fmenon">προτιθέμενον</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29wqw%5Cs">εἰωθὼς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fra%7C">ὥρᾳ</w> <w lemma="prosanatei%2Fnein">προσανατείνειν</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="a%29ntita%2Fttein">ἀντιτάττειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbusi">Λίβυσι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="paremba%2Fllein">παρεμβάλλειν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fqeto">προέθετο</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnein">κρίνειν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w>, <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Frghse">συνήργησε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frais">σφετέραις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fga">ὀλίγα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29la%2Fttwse">ἠλάττωσε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="diapemya%2Fmenos">διαπεμψάμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28phre%2Ftas">ὑπηρέτας</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxois">χιλιάρχοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftais">στρατιώταις</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoihsame%2Fnous">ἀριστοποιησαμένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplisame%2Fnous">καθοπλισαμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fgein">ἐξάγειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="peiqarxhsa%2Fntwn">πειθαρχησάντων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoian">ὑπόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="proape%2Fsteile">προαπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fzein">ἐγγίζειν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3D%7C">παρεμβολῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosakroboli%2Fzesqai">προσακροβολίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Flion">ἥλιον</w> <w lemma="a%29natolh%3Ds">ἀνατολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifainome%2Fnhs">ἐπιφαινομένης</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fon">πεδίον</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w>, <w lemma="ta%2Fttwn">τάττων</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fws">ἐναντίως</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen:">πρόσθεν·</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29ti%2Fqei">ἐτίθει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>.
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="suneggizo%2Fntwn">συνεγγιζόντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="e%29ktattome%2Fnhs">ἐκταττομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyei">ὄψει</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fqh">ἐδόθη</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaqopli%2Fsasqai">καθοπλίσασθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fsqhsan">ἠναγκάσθησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsteis">νήστεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="a%29paraskeu%2Fws">ἀπαρασκεύως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="e%29pafie%2Fnai">ἐπαφιέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsi">ἱππεῦσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fttein">παρατάττειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fas">παρωρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fktacin">ἔκταξιν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes:">ἔχοντες·</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fbaine">προύβαινε</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkritos">ἄκριτος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frisos">πάρισος</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%5C">συμπλοκὴ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="piezome%2Fnous">πιεζομένους</w> <w lemma="katafeu%2Fgontas">καταφεύγοντας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggas">φάλαγγας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="thnikau%3Dta">τηνικαῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diadeca%2Fmenos">διαδεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diasthma%2Ftwn">διαστημάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fais">σημαίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsw">εἴσω</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizome%2Fnous">ἀκροβολιζομένους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fsas">μερίσας</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="o%29pi%2Fsw">ὀπίσω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paratetagme%2Fnwn">παρατεταγμένων</w>, <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxous">γροσφομάχους</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fllei">ἐπιβάλλει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="metwphdo%5Cn">μετωπηδὸν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon:">ἔφοδον·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tetrasta%2Fdion">τετραστάδιον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="throu%3Dntas">τηροῦντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="deciw%3D%7C">δεξιῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flas">ἴλας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi">ἐπι</w>
<head>Defeat of Hasdrubal Son of Gesco</head>On this occasion Scipio appears to have employed a<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note32">Scipio resolves on a general engagement, and alters his disposition so as to make the battle depend upon the Italians rather than the Spaniards.</note>two-fold stratagem. Hasdrubal had been accustomed to make his demonstrations in force somewhat late in the day, with the Libyans in his centre, and the elephants on either wing; while his own practice had been to make his counter-movements somewhat later still, with the Roman soldiers on his centre opposite the Libyans, and the Iberians on his two wings; but the day on which he resolved upon a general engagement, by reversing this arrangement, he greatly contributed to secure the victory for his own men, and succeeded in putting the enemy at a considerable disadvantage. For directly it was light he sent his aides with orders to the tribunes and men to arm, as soon as they had got their breakfasts, and parade outside the camp. The order was obeyed with alacrity because the men suspected what was going to take place. He then sent the cavalry and light-armed forward, with orders to advance close to the enemy's camp, and skirmish boldly up to it; while he himself marched out with the infantry, just as the sun was appearing above the horizon; and on reaching the middle of<pb n="67" />the plain, made his dispositions in the reverse order to his usual arrangement, placing the Iberians in the centre and the Roman legionaries on the two wings.The sudden approach of the cavalry to their camp, and the simultaneous appearance of the rest of the army getting into order, left the Carthaginians barely time to get under arms. Hasdrubal was therefore obliged, without waiting for the men to get breakfast, or making any preparations, to despatch his cavalry and light-armed troops at once against the enemy's cavalry on the plain, and to get his infantry into order on some level ground not far from the skirts of the mountains, as was their custom. For a time the Romans remained quiet; but when the morning was getting on, and the engagement between the light-armed troops still continued undecided, because such of them as were forced from their ground retired on their own heavy infantry and then formed again for attack, Scipio at length thought that the time was come. He withdrew his skirmishers through the intervals of the maniples, and then distributed them equally between the two wings on rear of his line, first the velites and behind them the cavalry. He then advanced, at first in line direct; but when he was about a stade<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note33">Or, according to another reading "five stades."<bibl n="Liv. 28.14" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 28, 14</bibl>, says<quote lang="la">quingentos passus.</quote></note>from the enemy, he ordered the Iberians to continue the advance in the same order, while he commanded the maniples and squadrons on the right wing to turn outwards to the right, and those on the left wing to the left.