<w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>. <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="tekmai%2Fresqai">τεκμαίρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29cisw%2Fsantes">ἐξισώσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Ftacin">παράταξιν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllousi">συμβάλλουσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="metwphdo%5Cn">μετωπηδὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggas">φάλαγγας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fei">ἐφεδρεύει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fsgei">συμμίσγει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%2Fn">λοιπόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpie%2Fswsin">ἐκπιέσωσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="falaggi%3Dtai">φαλαγγῖται</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fllontes">προσβάλλοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpiesqw%3Dsin">ἐκπιεσθῶσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="le%2Flutai">λέλυται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion:">ἴδιον·</w>
<w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxwrou%3Dsin">ὑποχωροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontes">φεύγοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proskeime%2Fnous">προσκειμένους</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpousi">ἀπολείπουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>,
<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%2Fdotai">δέδοται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fousi">ἐφεδρεύουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%3Dn">ὁρμᾶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pareispeso%2Fntas">παρεισπεσόντας</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fous">πλαγίους</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fstasqai">παρίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="falaggi%2Ftais">φαλαγγίταις</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</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="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fcasqai">φυλάξασθαι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>;
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="poreuqh%3Dnai">πορευθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="pantodapw%3Dn">παντοδαπῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggi">φάλαγγι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%3Dsai">καταστρατοπεδεῦσαι</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="prokatalabe%2Fsqai">προκαταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkh%3Dsai%2F">πολιορκῆσαί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkhqh%3Dnai">πολιορκηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcois">παραδόξοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fais">ἐπιφανείαις</w> <w lemma="peripesei%3Dn:">περιπεσεῖν·</w>
<w lemma="a%28%2Fpanta">ἅπαντα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28opa%5Cs">ῥοπὰς</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntacis">σύνταξις</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhstos">δύσχρηστος</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxrhstos">ἄχρηστος</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="falaggi%2Fthn">φαλαγγίτην</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fgma">τάγμα</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxesqai">παρέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhstos:">εὔχρηστος·</w>
<w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Dos">Ῥωμαῖος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplisqei%5Cs">καθοπλισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsh%7C">ὁρμήσῃ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Frmostai">ἥρμοσται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimo%2Fs">ἕτοιμός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fh%7C">δέῃ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fan">σημαίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrhsti%2Fas">εὐχρηστίας</w> <w lemma="diaferou%2Fshs">διαφερούσης</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flh">τέλη</w> <w lemma="sunecakolouqei%3D">συνεξακολουθεῖ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsesi">προθέσεσι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w>.
<w lemma="peri%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%28ghsa%2Fmhn">ἡγησάμην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="dialamba%2Fnein">διαλαμβάνειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="h%28tth%2Fqhsan">ἡττήθησαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstw%7C">ἀπίστῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29oike%2Fnai">ἐοικέναι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="diaporh%2Fsein">διαπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpetai">λείπεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w>.
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<head>How the Romans Fight Against a Phalanx</head>For no speculation is any longer required to test the accuracy of what I am now saying: that can be done by referring to accomplished facts.The Romans do not, then, attempt to extend their front to equal that of a phalanx, and then charge directly upon it with their whole force: but some of their divisions are kept in reserve, while others join battle with the enemy at close quarters. Now, whether the phalanx in its charge drives its opponents from their ground, or is itself driven back, in either case its peculiar order is dislocated; for whether in following the retiring, or flying from the advancing enemy, they quit the rest of their forces: and when this takes place, the enemy's reserves can occupy the space thus left, and the ground which the phalanx had just before been holding, and so no longer charge them face to face, but fall upon them on their flank and rear. If, then, it is easy to take precautions against the opportunities and peculiar advantages of the phalanx, but impossible to do so in the case of its disadvantages, must it not<pb n="230" />follow that in practice the difference between these two systems is enormous? Of course those generals who employ the phalanx must march over ground of every description, must pitch camps, occupy points of advantage, besiege, and be besieged, and meet with unexpected appearances of the enemy: for all these are part and parcel of war, and have an important and sometimes decisive influence on the ultimate victory. And in all these cases the Macedonian phalanx is difficult, and sometimes impossible to handle, because the men cannot act either in squads or separately.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note62">Flexibility of the Roman order.</note>The Roman order on the other hand is flexible: for every Roman, once armed and on the field, is equally well equipped for every place, time, or appearance of the enemy. He is, moreover, quite ready and needs to make no change, whether he is required to fight in the main body, or in a detachment, or in a single maniple, or even by himself. Therefore, as the individual members of the Roman force are so much more serviceable, their plans are also much more often attended by success than those of others.I thought it necessary to discuss this subject at some length, because at the actual time of the occurrence many Greeks supposed when the Macedonians were beaten that it was incredible; and many will afterwards be at a loss to account for the inferiority of the phalanx to the Roman system of arming.
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Walbank Commentary