<w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29rkou%3Dn">ἀρκοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgesqai">λέγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>. <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="katapolemhqei%5Cs">καταπολεμηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29cexw%2Frhse">ἐξεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxw%7C">Ἀντιόχῳ</w> <w lemma="die%2Ftribe">διέτριβε</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="sunqewrou%3Dntes">συνθεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="lanqa%2Fnein">λανθάνειν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxonta">προσέχοντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqumon">πρόθυμον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29qera%2Fpeuon">ἐθεράπευον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="spouda%2Fzontes">σπουδάζοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28poyi%2Fan">ὑποψίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>. <w lemma="probai%2Fnontos">προβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnou">χρόνου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fptws">ὑπόπτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto%2F">ἐγένετό</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="a%29xqh%3Dnai">ἀχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28poikouroume%2Fnhn">ὑποικουρουμένην</w> <w lemma="a%29topi%2Fan">ἀτοπίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismou%5Cs">ἀπολογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dto">τοιοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fnthse">κατήντησε</w>, <w lemma="dusxrhstou%2Fmenos">δυσχρηστούμενος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="path%5Cr">πατὴρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="me%2Flloi">μέλλοι</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fesqai">στρατεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nne%2Fa">ἐννέα</w>, <w lemma="qu%2Fontos">θύοντος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Adii%5C">Διὶ</w> <w lemma="paresta%2Fnai">παρεστάναι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bwmo%2Fn">βωμόν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kallierh%2Fsas">καλλιερήσας</w> <w lemma="kataspei%2Fsai">κατασπείσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qeoi%3Ds">θεοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsai">ποιήσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="nomizo%2Fmena">νομιζόμενα</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qusi%2Fan">θυσίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%3Dnai">ἀποστῆναι</w> <w lemma="keleu%3Dsai">κελεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mikro%2Fn">μικρόν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proskalesa%2Fmenon">προσκαλεσάμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29re%2Fsqai">ἐρέσθαι</w> <w lemma="filofro%2Fnws">φιλοφρόνως</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="sunecorma%3Dn">συνεξορμᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratei%2Fan">στρατείαν</w>.
<w lemma="a%29sme%2Fnws">ἀσμένως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kataneu%2Fsantos">κατανεύσαντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosaciw%2Fsantos">προσαξιώσαντος</w> <w lemma="paidikw%3Ds">παιδικῶς</w>, <w lemma="labo%2Fmenon">λαβόμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="decia%3Ds">δεξιᾶς</w> <w lemma="prosagagei%3Dn">προσαγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bwmo%5Cn">βωμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="keleu%2Fein">κελεύειν</w> <w lemma="a%28ya%2Fmenon">ἁψάμενον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28erw%3Dn">ἱερῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29mnu%2Fnai">ὀμνύναι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpote">μηδέποτε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29noh%2Fsein">εὐνοήσειν</w>.
<w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Fta">εἰδότα</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fhtai">βουλεύηται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="qarrei%3Dn">θαρρεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fein">πιστεύειν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cn">συνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcein">ἕξειν</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzont%27">νομίζοντ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%2Ftaton">ἀληθινώτατον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fan">φιλίαν</w> <w lemma="sunti%2Fqhtai">συντίθηται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dsqai">προσδεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="diabolh%3Ds">διαβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pistei%3Dn">ἀπιστεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttesqai:">φυλάττεσθαι·</w>
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<head>Hannibal's Oath</head>When, after his final defeat by the Romans, Hannibal had at last quitted his country and was staying at the court of Antiochus, the warlike attitude of the Aetolian league induced the Romans to send ambassadors to Antiochus, that they might be informed of the king's intentions.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note25">B. C. 195</note>These ambassadors found that Antiochus was inclined to the Aetolian alliance, and was eager for war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; they accordingly paid great court to Hannibal with a view of bringing him into suspicion with the king. And in this they entirely succeeded. As time went on the king became ever more and more suspicious of Hannibal, until at length an opportunity occurred for an explanation of the alienation that had been thus secretly growing up between them.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note26">B. C. 238.</note>Hannibal then defended himself at great length, but without success, until at last he made the following statement: "When my father was about to go on his Iberian expedition I was nine years old: and as he was offering the sacrifice to Zeus I stood near the altar. The sacrifice successfully performed, my father poured the libation and went through the usual ritual. He then bade all the other worshippers stand a little back, and calling me to him asked me affectionately whether I wished to go with him on his expedition. Upon<pb n="176" />my eagerly assenting, and begging with boyish enthusiasm to be allowed to go, he took me by the right hand and led me up to the altar, and bade me lay my hand upon the victim and swear that I would never be friends with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. So long, then, Antiochus, as your policy is one of hostility to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, you may feel quite secure of having in me a most thoroughgoing supporter. But if ever you make terms or friendship with her, then you need not wait for any slander to make you distrust me and be on your guard against me; for there is nothing in my power that I would not do against her."
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Walbank Commentary