Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 28

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<w lemma="a%29pe%2Fbh">ἀπέβη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos:">τέλος·</w> <w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkthn">ἕκτην</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblon">βύβλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fa%7C">ἐπαγγελίᾳ</w> <w lemma="katalipw%5Cn">καταλιπὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsomai">ποιήσομαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousin">διαφέρουσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="peira%2Fsomai">πειράσομαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fan">ἐπαγγελίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntacis">σύνταξις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="didou%3Dsa">διδοῦσα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kra%2Ftei">ἐκράτει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcewn">συντάξεων</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="prosesperi%2Fwn">προσεσπερίων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcewn">τάξεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fkrisis">διάκρισις</w>,
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<w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29reunh%3Dsai">ἐρευνῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratei%3Dn">ἐπικρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prwtei%3Don">πρωτεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29kfe%2Fresqai">ἐκφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontes">λέγοντες</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="makari%2Fzwmen">μακαρίζωμεν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kratou%3Dntas">κρατοῦντας</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaioi">μάταιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftes">εἰδότες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%3Ds">ἀληθεῖς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="e%29painw%3Dmen">ἐπαινῶμεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzwmen">θαυμάζωμεν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnous">ἡγουμένους</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aperi%5C">Περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29lattwma%2Ftwn">ἐλαττωμάτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein:">λέγειν·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismo%5Cn">καθοπλισμὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntacin">σύνταξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pidecio%2Fthta">ἐπιδεξιότητα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gxi%2Fnoian">ἀγχίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fpipton">περιέπιπτον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29lattw%2Fmasi">ἐλαττώμασι</w>.
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fkamen">πεποιήκαμεν</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fontes">ὑποδεικνύοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w>.
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<w lemma="marturei%3D">μαρτυρεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frois">ἡμετέροις</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou:">πολέμου·</w> <w lemma="prosgenome%2Fnou">προσγενομένου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fan">παραπλησίαν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fba%7C">Ἀννίβᾳ</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="sunechkolou%2Fqhse">συνεξηκολούθησε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois:">προειρημένοις·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="a%29podokima%2Fsas">ἀποδοκιμάσας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxonta">ὑπάρχοντα</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismo%2Fn">καθοπλισμόν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="nikh%3Dsai">νικῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth%7C">πρώτῃ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="kaqopli%2Fsas">καθοπλίσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="diete%2Flese">διετέλεσε</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Apu%2Frros">Πύρρος</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29italikai%3Ds">Ἰταλικαῖς</w> <w lemma="sugke%2Fxrhtai">συγκέχρηται</w>, <w lemma="tiqei%5Cs">τιθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29nalla%5Cc">ἐναλλὰξ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fan">σημαίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spei%3Dran">σπεῖραν</w> <w lemma="falaggitikh%5Cn">φαλαγγιτικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dsin">ἀγῶσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnato">ἐδύνατο</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="a%29mfi%2Fdoca">ἀμφίδοξα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flh">τέλη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fbaine">ἀπέβαινε</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aperi%5C">Περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntemfai%2Fnein">ἀντεμφαίνειν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frais">ἡμετέραις</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fsesin:">ἀποφάσεσιν·</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fneimi">ἐπάνειμι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnhn">προκειμένην</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w>.
<head>The Macedonian Phalanx</head>In my sixth book I made a promise, still unfulfilled, of taking a fitting opportunity of drawing a comparison between the arms of the Romans and Macedonians, and their respective system of tactics, and pointing out how they differ for better or worse from each other. I will now endeavour by a reference to actual facts to fulfil that promise. For since in former times the Macedonian tactics proved themselves by experience capable of conquering those of Asia and Greece; while the Roman tactics sufficed to conquer the nations of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> and all those of Western Europe; and since in our own day there have been numerous opportunities of comparing the men as well as their tactics,—it will be, I think, a useful and worthy task to investigate their differences, and discover why it is that the Romans conquer and carry off the palm from their enemies in the operations of war: that we may not put it all down to Fortune, and congratulate them on their good luck, as the thoughtless of mankind do; but, from a knowledge of the true causes, may give their leaders the tribute of praise and admiration which they deserve.Now as to the battles which the Romans fought with Hannibal,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note57">The Roman defeats in the Punic wars were not from inferior tactics, but owing to the genius of Hannibal.</note>and the defeats which they sustained in them, I need say no more. It was not owing to their arms or their but to the skill and genius of Hannibal that they met with those defeats: and that I made quite clear in my account of the battles themAnd my contention is supported by two facts. First, by the conclusion of the war: for as soon as the Romans got a general of ability comparable with that of Hannibal, victory was not long in following their banners. Secondly, Hannibal himself, being dissatisfied with the original arms of his men, and having immediately after his first victory furnished his troops with the arms of the Romans, continued to employ them thenceforth to the end.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note58">See<ref target="b3c87" targOrder="U">3, 87</ref>.</note>Pyrrhus, again, availed himself not only of the arms, but also of the troops of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, placing a maniple of Italians and a company of his own phalanx alternately, in his battles against the Romans. Yet even this did not enable him to win; the battles were somehow or another always indecisive.<pb n="227" />It was necessary to speak first on these points, to anticipate any instances which might seem to make against my theory. I will now return to my comparison.