Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 107

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<w lemma="%2Ato%5Cn">Τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dna">χειμῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29arinh%5Cn">ἐαρινὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="die%2Fmeinan">διέμειναν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntistratopedeu%2Fontes">ἀντιστρατοπεδεύοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois:">ἀλλήλοις·</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paradido%2Fntos">παραδιδόντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29petei%2Fwn">ἐπετείων</w> <w lemma="karpw%3Dn">καρπῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ki%2Fnei">ἐκίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Agerou%2Fnion">Γερούνιον</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w>.
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<w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagka%2Fsai">ἀναγκάσαι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>, <w lemma="katalamba%2Fnei">καταλαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnhs">Κάννης</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhs">προσαγορευομένης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="si%3Dton">σῖτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="loipa%5Cs">λοιπὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fzesqai">ἁθροίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akanu%2Fsion">Κανύσιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn:">τόπων·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="parakomi%2Fzesqai">παρακομίζεσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="kateska%2Ffqai">κατεσκάφθαι</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="katalhfqei%2Fshs">καταληφθείσης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cn">μικρὰν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fpese">συνέπεσε</w> <w lemma="taraxh%5Cn">ταραχὴν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis:">δυνάμεις·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxrhstou%3Dnt%27">ἐδυσχρηστοῦντ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kateilh%3Dfqai">κατειλῆφθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
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<w lemma="pe%2Fmpontes">πέμποντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29punqa%2Fnonto">ἐπυνθάνοντο</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fswsi">ἐγγίσωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dunhso%2Fmenoi">δυνησόμενοι</w> <w lemma="fugomaxei%3Dn">φυγομαχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="katafqeirome%2Fnhs">καταφθειρομένης</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="metew%2Frwn">μετεώρων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fsanto">ἐβουλεύσαντο</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllein">συμβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pisxei%3Dn">ἐπισχεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffhsan">διεσάφησαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftous">ὑπάτους</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstellon">ἐξαπέστελλον</w>.
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<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flion">Αἰμίλιον</w> <w lemma="a%29poble%2Fpein">ἀποβλέπειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29perei%2Fdesqai">ἀπερείδεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstas">πλείστας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="loipou%3D">λοιποῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fan">καλοκἀγαθίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mikroi%3Ds">μικροῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrwdw%3Ds">ἀνδρωδῶς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfero%2Fntws">συμφερόντως</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="kexeirike%2Fnai">κεχειρικέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%5Cs">Ἰλλυριοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
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<w lemma="proe%2Fqento">προέθεντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpot%27">οὐδέποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gego%2Fnei">ἐγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2F">καθά</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttara">τέτταρα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="proxeiri%2Fzontai">προχειρίζονται</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fous">τετρακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%28losxereste%2Fra">ὁλοσχερεστέρα</w> <w lemma="profai%2Fnhtai">προφαίνηται</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa">χρεία</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstw%7C">ἑκάστῳ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frison">πάρισον</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+koi%3Ds">Ῥωμαϊκοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fpan">ἐπίπαν</w> <w lemma="tripla%2Fsion">τριπλάσιον</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frw%7C">ἑκατέρῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllousin">ἐξαποστέλλουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftou">ὑπάτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnousi">κρίνουσι</w>, <w lemma="spani%2Fws">σπανίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>.
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds">ἐκπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Ffoboi">κατάφοβοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttarsin">τέτταρσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+koi%3Ds">Ῥωμαϊκοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="proh%2F%7Crhnto">προῄρηντο</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w>.
<head>Hannibal Occupies Cannae</head>Thus through all that winter and spring the two<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note168">Autumn, B. C. 216.</note>armies remained encamped facing each other. But when the season for the new harvest was come, Hannibal began to move from the camp at Geronium; and making up his mind that it would be to his advantage to force the enemy by any possible means to give him battle, he occupied the citadel of a town called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a>, into which the corn and other supplies from the district round Canusium were collected by the Romans, and conveyed thence to the camp as occasion required. The town itself, indeed, had been reduced to ruins the year before: but the capture of its citadel and the material of war contained in it, caused great commotion in the Roman army; for it was not only the loss of the place and the stores in it that distressed them, but the fact also that it commanded the surrounding district. They therefore sent frequent messages to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> asking for instructions: for if they approached the enemy they would not be able to avoid an engagement, in view of the fact that the country was being plundered, and the allies all in a state of excitement.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note169">The Senate order a battle.</note>The Senate passed a resolution that they should give the enemy battle: they, however, bade Gnaeus Servilius wait, and despatched the Consuls to the seat of war. It was to Aemilius that all eyes turned, and on him the most confident hopes were fixed; for his life had been a noble one, and<pb n="264" />he was thought to have managed the recent Illyrian war with advantage to the State. The Senate determined to bring eight legions into the field, which had never been done at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> before, each legion consisting of five thousand men besides allies. For the Romans, as I have stated before,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note170">See<ref target="b1c16" targOrder="U">1. 16</ref>.</note>habitually enrol four legions each year, each consisting of about four thousand foot and two hundred horse; and when any unusual necessity arises, they raise the number of foot to five thousand and of the horse to three hundred. Of allies, the number in each legion is the same as that of the citizens, but of the horse three times as great. Of the four legions thus composed, they assign two to each of the Consuls for whatever service is going on. Most of their wars are decided by one Consul and two legions, with their quota of allies; and they rarely employ all four at one time and on service. But on this occasion, so great was the alarm and terror of what would happen, they resolved to bring not only four but eight legions into the field.