Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 13

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<w lemma="%2Apa%2Fshs">Πάσης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="xeiro%5Cs">χειρὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> [<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="do%2Frasi">δόρασι</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="ci%2Ffesi">ξίφεσι</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnous">ἀγωνιζομένους</w>], <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerei%2Fa%7C">εὐχερείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dxon">προεῖχον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Froi">μισθοφόροι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="katetrauma%2Ftizon">κατετραυμάτιζον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>,
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29kribei%3D">ἀκριβεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismw%3D%7C">καθοπλισμῷ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbainon">ἐπέβαινον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%28pome%2Fnwn">ἑπομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fntwn">παρακαλούντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frois">μισθοφόροις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="suneggizo%2Fntwn">συνεγγιζόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="parabohqou%2Fntwn">παραβοηθούντων</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiliw%2Fntwn">ἀποδειλιώντων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fklinan">ἐνέκλιναν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frbaroi">βάρβαροι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcantes">δόξαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29gkatalei%2Fpesqai">ἐγκαταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pipeso%2Fntes">ἐπιπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxw%2Frhsin">ἀποχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%3Dtas">ἐφεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkteinon">ἔκτεινον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrwdw%3Ds">ἀνδρωδῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqanei%3Dn:">ἀποθανεῖν·</w> <w lemma="foneuo%2Fmenoi">φονευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="e%29ma%2Fxonto">ἐμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.
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<w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="e%29kstatikw%3Ds">ἐκστατικῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnws">παρηλλαγμένως</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgous">ὀλίγους</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxean">συνέχεαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pipeso%2Fntes">ἐπιπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28sta%2Ftwn">ἁστάτων</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas:">σημαίας·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prigki%2Fpwn">πριγκίπων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnes">ἡγεμόνες</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenoi">συνθεασάμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἐπέστησαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28sta%2Ftwn">ἁστάτων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kateko%2Fph">κατεκόπη</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diasw%7Czome%2Fnous">διασῳζομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontas">φεύγοντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fase">εἴασε</w> <w lemma="katamigh%3Dnai">καταμιγῆναι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="probale%2Fsqai">προβαλέσθαι</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Ftais">ἐπιστάταις</w> <w lemma="e%29kw%2Fluse">ἐκώλυσε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parade%2Fcasqai">παραδέξασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fzontas">ἐγγίζοντας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fsqhsan">ἠναγκάσθησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxw%2Frhsin">ἀποχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frata">κέρατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>
<head>Cowardice of the Carthaginians</head>The whole affair being now a trial of strength between<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note21">The fight of the heavy infantry.</note>man and man at close quarters, as the combatants used their swords and not their spears, the superiority was at first on the side of the dexterity and daring of the mercenaries, which enabled them to wound a considerable number of the Romans. The latter, however, trusting to the steadiness of their ranks and the excellence of their arms, still kept gaining ground, their rear ranks keeping close up with them and encouraging them to advance; while the Carthaginians did not keep up with their mercenaries nor support them, but showed a thoroughly cowardly spirit. The result was that the foreign soldiers gave way: and, believing that they had been shamelessly abandoned by their own side, fell<pb n="148" />upon the men on their rear as they were retreating, and began killing them; whereby many of the Carthaginians were compelled to meet a gallant death in spite of themselves. For as they were being cut down by their mercenaries they had, much against their inclination, to fight with their own men and the Romans at the same time; and as they now fought with desperation and fury they killed a good many both of their own men and of the enemy also. Thus it came about that their charge threw the maniples of the<foreign lang="la">hastati</foreign>into confusion; whereupon the officers of the<foreign lang="la">principes</foreign>caused their lines to advance to oppose them. However, the greater part of the mercenaries and Carthaginians had fallen either by mutual slaughter or by the sword of the<foreign lang="la">hastati.</foreign>Those who survived and fled Hannibal would not allow to enter the ranks of his army, but ordered his men to lower their spears and keep them back as they approached; and they were therefore compelled to take refuge on the wings or make for the open country.