<head lang="la">I. Res Italiae Et Africae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntwn">λαβόντων</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="forthgou%5Cs">φορτηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="nh%3Das">νῆας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Fsion">ἐξαίσιον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferen">ἔφερεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="parh%7Crh%3Dsqai">παρῃρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="pareskeua%2Fsqai">παρεσκευάσθαι</w> <w lemma="dayi%2Fleian">δαψίλειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w>,
<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Fteron">βαρύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parabebhke%2Fnai">παραβεβηκέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gei%2Fresqai">ἐγείρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="proxeirisa%2Fmenos">προχειρισάμενος</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Ase%2Frgion">Σέργιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Abai%2Fbion">Βαίβιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbion">Φάβιον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="dialecome%2Fnous">διαλεξομένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlw%2Fsontas">δηλώσοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="keku%2Frwke">κεκύρωκε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn:">Ῥωμαίων·</w>
<w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apopli%2Fw%7C">Ποπλίῳ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmata">γράμματα</w> <w lemma="diasafou%3Dnta">διασαφοῦντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fntes">παραγενηθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="paraxqe%2Fntes">παραχθέντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Flegon">ἔλεγον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w>,
<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29namimnh%2Fskontes">ἀναμιμνήσκοντες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="presbeutai%2F">πρεσβευταί</w>, <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fntes">παραγενηθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhta">Τύνητα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parelqo%2Fntes">παρελθόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29spa%2Fsainto">ἀσπάσαιντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="proskunh%2Fsaien">προσκυνήσαιεν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w>,
<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peso%2Fntes">πεσόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29gennw%3Ds">ἀγεννῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="katafiloi%3Den">καταφιλοῖεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fw%7C">συνεδρίῳ</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nasta%2Fntes">ἀναστάντες</w> [<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w>] <w lemma="kathgorh%2Fsaien">κατηγορήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnas">γενομένας</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29qeth%2Fsaien">ἀθετήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%2F">αὐτοί</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fqoien">πάθοιεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29de%2Fonto">ἐδέοντο</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkeston:">ἀνήκεστον·</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fran">σφετέραν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fdeicin">ἀπόδειξιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fas">καλοκἀγαθίας</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fonta">μνημονεύοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> [<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w>] <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fw%7C">συνεδρίῳ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="e%29kplh%2Fttesqai">ἐκπλήττεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pelanqa%2Fnonto">ἐπελανθάνοντο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntwn">ῥηθέντων</w>, <w lemma="a%29qetei%3Dn">ἀθετεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w>.
<w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fba%7C">Ἀννίβᾳ</w> <w lemma="pepoiqo%2Ftes">πεποιθότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="parou%2Fsais">παρούσαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="fronou%3Dntes:">φρονοῦντες·</w>
<w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontes">φεύγοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alaki%2Fnion">Λακίνιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3D">κἀκεῖ</w> <w lemma="sugkekleisme%2Fnoi">συγκεκλεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%2Fmenoi">πολιορκούμενοι</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%5Cs">ἑαυτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kseswko%2Ftes">ἐκσεσωκότες</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkousi">ἥκουσι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>.
"<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nenikhko%2Ftes">νενικηκότες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dsan">παρῆσαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dusi%5C">δυσὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="nenikhko%2Ftas">νενικηκότας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="a%29mfido%2Fcous">ἀμφιδόξους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sfalh%3Dnai">σφαλῆναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntos">συμβάντος</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fous">ποίους</w> <w lemma="e%29pikale%2Fsesqe">ἐπικαλέσεσθε</w>"
<w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="qeou%2Fs">θεούς</w>; <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kratou%2Fntwn">κρατούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fleon">ἔλεον</w> <w lemma="e%29pispa%2Fsesqe">ἐπισπάσεσθε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="sumfora%2Fs">συμφοράς</w>;
<w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pokleisqh%2Fsesqai">ἀποκλεισθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29qesi%2Fan">ἀθεσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w>."
|
<head>Speech of Roman Envoys At Carthage</head>THE Carthaginians having seized the transports as prizes<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note2">Some transports under Cn. Octavius wrecked in the Bay of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and taken possession of by the Carthaginians in spite of the truce. Autumn of B.C. 203. See<bibl n="Liv. 30.24" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 30, 24</bibl>.</note>of war, and with them an extraordinary quantity of provisions, Scipio was extremely enraged, not so much at the loss of the provisions, as by the fact that the enemy had thereby obtained vast supply of necessaries; and still more at the Carthaginians having violated the sworn articles of truce, and commenced the war He therefore at once selected Lucius Sergius, Lucius Baebius, and Lucius Fabius to go to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, to remonstrate on what had taken place, and at the same time to announce that the Roman people had ratified the treaty; for he had lately received a despatch from home to that effect. Upon their arrival in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> these envoys first had an audience of the Senate, and then were introduced to a meeting of the people.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note3">Speech of the Roman envoys</note>On both occasions they spoke with great freedom on the situation of affairs, reminding their hearers that "Their ambassadors who had come to the Roman camp at Tunes, on being admitted to the council of officers, had not been content with appealing to the gods and kissing the ground, as other people do, but had thrown themselves upon the earth, and in abject humiliation had kissed the feet of the assembled officers; and then, rising<pb n="137" />from the ground, had reproached themselves for breaking the existing treaty between the Romans and Carthaginians, and acknowledged that they deserved every severity at the hands of the Romans; but intreated to be spared the last severities, from a regard to the vicissitudes of human fortune, for their folly would be the means of displaying the generosity of the Romans. Remembering all this, the general and the officers then present in the council were at a loss to understand what had encouraged them to forget what they then said, and to venture to break their sworn articles of agreement.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note4">Hannibal leaves <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, 23d June, B.C. 203.</note>Plainly it was this—they trusted in Hannibal and the forces that had arrived with him. But they were very ill advised. All the world knew that he and his army had been driven these two years past from every port of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and had retreated into the neighbourhood of the Lacinian promontory, where they had been so closely shut up and almost besieged, that they had barely been able to get safe away home. Not that, even if they had come back," he added, "as conquerors, and were minded to engage us who have already defeated you in two consecutive battles, ought you to entertain any doubt as to the result, or to speculate on the chance of victory. The certainty of defeat were a better subject for your reflections: and when that takes place, what are the gods that you will summon to your aid? And what arguments will you use to move the pity of the victors for your misfortunes? You must needs expect to be debarred from all hope of mercy from gods and men alike by your perfidy and folly."
|
Walbank Commentary