<w lemma="%2Ati%2Fs">Τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Fllon">σφάλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagci">φάλαγξι</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w>;
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29ori%2Fstous">ἀορίστους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Dn">ἐπιτελεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipa%2Flois">ἀντιπάλοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnein">συγκαταβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="me%2Flloien">μέλλοιεν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnesqai">κρίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fresqai">φέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prwtei%3Don">πρωτεῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagci">φάλαγξι</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous:">χρωμένους·</w>
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnein">ἐκκλίνειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="fobero%5Cn">φοβερὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w>;
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdwn">ἐπιπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yilw%3Dn">ψιλῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagc">φάλαγξ</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fdion">ἐμπόδιον</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrous">τάφρους</w>, <w lemma="e%29krh%2Fgmata">ἐκρήγματα</w>, <w lemma="sunagkei%2Fas">συναγκείας</w>, <w lemma="o%29fru%3Ds">ὀφρῦς</w>, <w lemma="r%28ei%3Dqra">ῥεῖθρα</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmeno%2Fn">ὁμολογούμενόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>.
<w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="parapodi%2Fzein">παραποδίζειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fein">λύειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="i%28kana%5C">ἱκανὰ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%2Fn">σχεδόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnato%2Fn">ἀδύνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnion">σπάνιον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%28mologh%2Fseien">ὁμολογήσειεν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstw">ἔστω</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%28rh%3Dsqai">εὑρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w>. <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> [<w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w>] <w lemma="polemou%3Dntes">πολεμοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnwsi">συγκαταβαίνωσι</w>, <w lemma="periporeuo%2Fmenoi">περιπορευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="porqw%3Dsi">πορθῶσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Ffelos">ὄφελος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>;
<w lemma="me%2Fnousa">μένουσα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fois">ἐπιτηδείοις</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3D%7C">αὑτῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3Dn">ὠφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnait%27">δύναιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28auth%5Cn">ἑαυτὴν</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czein">σῴζειν</w>.
<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="parakomidai%5C">παρακομιδαὶ</w> <w lemma="kwluqh%2Fsontai">κωλυθήσονται</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%29koniti%5C">ἀκονιτὶ</w> <w lemma="kratw%3Dsi">κρατῶσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn:">ὑπαίθρων·</w>
<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29polipou%3Dsa">ἀπολιποῦσα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flhtai%2F">βούληταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29xei%2Frwtos">εὐχείρωτος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdous">ἐπιπέδους</w> <w lemma="sugkataba%2Fs">συγκαταβάς</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Fteron">σφέτερον</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28poba%2Flh%7C">ὑποβάλῃ</w>, <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fugomaxh%2Fsh%7C">φυγομαχήσῃ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qew%2Frhton">εὐθεώρητον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbhso%2Fmenon">συμβησόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w>
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<head>Cumbrous Nature of the Phalanx</head>Why is it then that the Romans conquer? And what is<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note61">Why the phalanx fails.</note>it that brings disaster on those who employ the phalanx? Why, just because war is full of uncertainties both as to time and place; whereas there is but one time and one kind of ground in which a phalanx can fully work. If, then, there were anything to compel the enemy to accommodate himself to the time and place of the phalanx, when about to fight a general engagement, it would be but natural to expect that those who employed the phalanx would always carry off the victory. But if the enemy finds it possible, and even easy, to avoid its attack, what becomes of its formidable character? Again, no one denies that for its employment it is indispensable to have a country<pb n="229" />flat, bare, and without such impediments as ditches, cavities, depressions, steep banks, or beds of rivers: for all such obstacles are sufficient to hinder and dislocate this particular formation. And that it is, I may say, impossible, or at any rate exceedingly rare to find a piece of country of twenty stades, or sometimes of even greater extent, without any such obstacles, every one will also admit. However, let us suppose that such a district has been found. If the enemy decline to come down into it, but traverse the country sacking the towns and territories of the allies, what use will the phalanx be? For if it remains on the ground suited to itself, it will not only fail to benefit its friends, but will be incapable even of preserving itself; for the carriage of provisions will be easily stopped by the enemy, seeing that they are in undisputed possession of the country: while if it quits its proper ground, from the wish to strike a blow, it will be an easy prey to the enemy. Nay, if a general does descend into the plain, and yet does not risk his whole army upon one charge of the phalanx or upon one chance, but manœuvres for a time to avoid coming to close quarters in the engagement, it is easy to learn what will be the result from what the Romans are now actually doing.
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Walbank Commentary