Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 115

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<w lemma="%2Agenome%2Fnhs">Γενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%3Ds">συμπλοκῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fths">πρώτης</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="protetagme%2Fnwn">προτεταγμένων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpisos">ἔπισος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fsai">πελάσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Foun">ἐποίουν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%5Cn">ἀληθινὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="barbarikh%2Fn:">βαρβαρικήν·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrofh%3Ds">ἀναστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29sa%2Fpac">εἰσάπαξ</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fntes">συμπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ma%2Fxonto">ἐμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="sumpleko%2Fmenoi">συμπλεκόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w>, <w lemma="parakatabai%2Fnontes">παρακαταβαίνοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kra%2Fthsan">ἐκράτησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <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%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%3D%7C">συμπλοκῇ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="diagwnizome%2Fnwn">διαγωνιζομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flaunon">ἤλαυνον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="foneu%2Fontes">φονεύοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosfe%2Frontes">προσφέροντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="a%29paraith%2Ftws">ἀπαραιτήτως</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pezika%5C">πεζικὰ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="diadeca%2Fmena">διαδεξάμενα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fpesen">συνέπεσεν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diema%2Fxonto">διεμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws:">γενναίως·</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="qlibo%2Fmenoi">θλιβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fnontes">κλίνοντες</w> <w lemma="u%28pexw%2Froun">ὑπεχώρουν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%29pi%2Fsw">τοὐπίσω</w>, <w lemma="lu%2Fsantes">λύσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="mhni%2Fskon">μηνίσκον</w>.
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<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="spei%3Drai">σπεῖραι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kqumi%2Fan">ἐκθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenai">ἑπόμεναι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkoyan">διέκοψαν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="lepto%5Cn">λεπτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktetagme%2Fnwn">ἐκτεταγμένων</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pepuknwko%2Ftes">πεπυκνωκότες</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fonta">κινδυνεύοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon:">τόπον·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frata">κέρατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="sumpi%2Fptein">συμπίπτειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dta">πρῶτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mhnoeidei%3D">μηνοειδεῖ</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmati">σχήματι</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnous">τεταγμένους</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="propeptwke%2Fnai">προπεπτωκέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mhni%2Fskou">μηνίσκου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frtwma">κύρτωμα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi%2F">ἑπόμενοί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntre%2Fxontes">συντρέχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkonta">εἴκοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fpeson">προέπεσον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuas">Λίβυας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fsi">βαρέσι</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismoi%3Ds:">καθοπλισμοῖς·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deciou%3D">δεξιοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fratos">κέρατος</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fnantes">κλίναντες</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29spi%2Fda">ἀσπίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbolh%5Cn">ἐμβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fratos">δόρατος</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fstanto">παρίσταντο</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fru">δόρυ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fsin">κλίσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29spi%2Fdos">ἀσπίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29piparene%2Fballon">ἐπιπαρενέβαλλον</w>, <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fntos">ὑποδεικνύντος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="a%29polhfqh%3Dnai">ἀποληφθῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="para%2Fptwsin">παράπτωσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="falagghdo%2Fn">φαλαγγηδόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w> <w lemma="strefo%2Fmenoi">στρεφόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="pros">προς</w>
<head>The Battle of Cannae</head>The battle was begun by an engagement between<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note180">The battle, 2d August, B. C. 216.</note>the advanced guard of the two armies; and at first the affair between these light-armed troops was indecisive. But as soon as the Iberian and Celtic cavalry got at the Romans, the battle began in earnest, and in the true barbaric fashion: for there was none of the usual formal advance and retreat; but when they once got to close quarters, they grappled man to man, and, dismounting from their horses, fought on foot. But when the Carthaginians had got the upper hand in this encounter and killed most of their opponents on the ground,—<pb n="271" />because the Romans all maintained the fight with spirit and determination,—and began chasing the remainder along the river, slaying as they went and giving no quarter; then the legionaries took the place of the light-armed and closed with the enemy. For a short time the Iberian and Celtic lines stood their ground and fought gallantly; but; presently overpowered by the weight of the heavy-armed lines, they gave way and retired to the rear, thus breaking up the crescent. The Roman maniples followed with spirit, and easily cut their way through the enemy's line; since the Celts had been drawn up in a thin line, while the Romans had closed up from the wings towards the centre and the point of danger. For the two wings did not come into action at the same time as the centre: but the centre was first engaged, because the Gauls, having been stationed on the arc of the crescent, had come into contact with the enemy long before the wings, the convex of the crescent being towards the enemy.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note181">The Romans outflanked by the cavalry.</note>The Romans, however, going in pursuit of these troops, and hastily closing in towards the centre and the part of the enemy which was giving ground, advanced so far, that the Libyan heavy-armed troops on either wing got on their flanks. Those on the right, facing to the left, charged from the right upon the Roman flank; while those who were on the left wing faced to the right, and, dressing by the left, charged their right flank,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note182"><foreign lang="greek">ἐξ ἀσπίδος ἐπιπαρενέβαλλον.</foreign>The ordinary word for "forming line" or "taking dressing" is<foreign lang="greek">παρεμβάλλειν.</foreign>In the other two passages where<foreign lang="greek">ἐπιπαρενβάλλειν</foreign>is used,<foreign lang="greek">ἐπί</foreign>has a distinct (though different) force. I think here it must mean "against," "so as to attack." And this seems to be Casaubon's interpretation.</note>the exigency of the moment suggesting to them what they ought to do. Thus it came about, as Hannibal had planned, that the Romans were caught between two hostile lines of Libyans—thanks to their impetuous pursuit of the Celts. Still they fought, though no longer in line, yet singly, or in maniples, which faced about to meet those who charged them on the flanks.