Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpen">εἶπεν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="u%28polabw%5Cn">ὑπολαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fous">αἰτίους</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds:">προφανῶς·</w>
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<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>. <w lemma="ma%2Frturas">μάρτυρας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="periqe%2Fntas">περιθέντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousi">ἄρχουσι</w> <w lemma="xeirw%3Dn">χειρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkwn">ἀδίκων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnois">ἀμυνομένοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ble%2Fpein">βλέπειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpi%2Fnwn">ἀνθρωπίνων</w> <w lemma="stoxa%2Fzesqai">στοχάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>. "
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrh%2Fsas">ἐκχωρήσας</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fteinas">προύτεινας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fomai%2F">οἴομαί</w> <w lemma="se">σε</w> <w lemma="diayeusqh%3Dnai">διαψευσθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkwn">ἄκων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fghs">ἀπηλλάγης</w>, <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fntes">διαβάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="e%29krath%2Fsamen">ἐκρατήσαμεν</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="parallagh%2Fn">παραλλαγήν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flqomen">ἤλθομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w>;
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<w lemma="h%28tthqe%2Fntwn">ἡττηθέντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dehqe%2Fntwn">δεηθέντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qe%2Fmeqa">ἐθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="e%29ggra%2Fptous">ἐγγράπτους</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="proteinome%2Fnois">προτεινομένοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="paraxwrh%3Dsai">παραχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktwn">καταφράκτων</w>, <w lemma="pentakisxi%2Flia">πεντακισχίλια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="prosenegkei%3Dn">προσενεγκεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmhra">ὅμηρα</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="suneqe%2Fmeqa">συνεθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous:">ἀλλήλους·</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29presbeu%2Fsamen">ἐπρεσβεύσαμεν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmon">δῆμον</w>, <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%3Dntes">ὁμολογοῦντες</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3Dn">εὐδοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gegramme%2Fnois">γεγραμμένοις</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w>. <w lemma="e%29pei%2Fsqh">ἐπείσθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="sugkath%2F%7Cnese">συγκατῄνεσε</w>. <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Foun">ἠξίουν</w> <w lemma="h%29qe%2Fthsan">ἠθέτησαν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="paraspondh%2Fsantes">παρασπονδήσαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpetai">λείπεται</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>;
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<w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mh%5Cn">ἐμὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="metalabw%5Cn">μεταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>. <w lemma="a%29felei%3Dn">ἀφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Ftata">βαρύτατα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pitagma%2Ftwn">ἐπιταγμάτων</w>; <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%3Dqla">ἆθλα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="didaxqw%3Dsi">διδαχθῶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntas">ποιοῦντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn:">παρασπονδεῖν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29ciou%3Dsi">ἀξιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="o%29fei%2Flwsin">ὀφείλωσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w>;
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28kethri%2Fas">ἱκετηρίας</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Floun">παρεκάλουν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="braxei%2Fas">βραχείας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29pela%2Fbonto">ἐπελάβοντο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="se%2F">σέ</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhntai">κέχρηνται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="barute%2Frou">βαρυτέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="prosepitaxqe%2Fntos">προσεπιταχθέντος</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nenegkei%3Dn">ἀνενεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsews">διαλύσεως</w>, <w lemma="u%28fai%2Fresin">ὑφαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnois">ποιουμένοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flion">διαβούλιον</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frwn">ἡμετέρων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w>; <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitroph%5Cn">ἐπιτροπὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnai">διδόναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="maxome%2Fnous">μαχομένους</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>".
<head>Scipio's reply</head>In reply to this speech of Hannibal, Scipio said "That neither in the Sicilian nor Iberian war were the Romans the aggressors, but notoriously the Carthaginians, which no one knew better than Hannibal himself. That the gods themselves had confirmed this by giving the victory, not to those who struck the first and unprovoked blow, but to those who only acted in self-defence. That he was as ready as any one to keep before his eyes the uncertainty of Fortune, and tried his best to confine his efforts within the range of human infirmity. But if," he continued, "you had yourself quitted <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> before the Romans crossed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> with the offer of these terms in your hands, I do not think that you would have been disappointed in your expectation. But now that your departure from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> has been involuntary, and we have crossed into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> and conquered the country, it is clear that matters stand on a very different footing. But above all, consider the point which affairs have reached now. Your countrymen have been beaten, and at their earnest prayer we arranged a written treaty, in which, besides the offer now made by you, it was provided that the Carthaginians should restore prisoners without ransom, should surrender all their decked vessels, pay five thousand talents, and give hostages for their performance of these articles. These were the terms which I and they mutually agreed upon; we both despatched envoys to our respective Senates and people,—we consenting to grant these terms, the Carthaginians begging to have them granted. The Senate agreed: the people ratified the treaty. But though they had got what they asked, the Carthaginians annulled the compact by an act of perfidy towards us. What course is left to me? Put yourself in my place and say. To withdraw the severest clauses of the treaty? Are we to do this, say you, not in order that by reaping the reward of treachery they may learn in future to outrage their benefactors, but in order that by getting what they ask for they may be grateful to us? Why, only the other day, after obtaining what they begged for as suppliants, because your presence gave them a slender hope of success, they at once<pb n="144" />treated us as hated foes and public enemies. In these circumstances, if a still severer clause were added to the conditions imposed, it might be possible to refer the treaty back to the people; but, if I were to withdraw any of these conditions, such a reference does not admit even of discussion. What then is the conclusion of my discourse? It is, that you must submit yourselves and your country to us unconditionally, or conquer us in the field."