<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="prospeptwkui%2Fas">προσπεπτωκυίας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w> <w lemma="a%28lw%2Fsews">ἁλώσεως</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ma%5C">μὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2Fa">Δία</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flion">διαβούλιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dgon">ἦγον</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="fasi%2F">φασί</w>, <w lemma="proskatata%2Fttontes">προσκατατάττοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Ftera">ἑκάτερα</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntas">ῥηθέντας</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29topw%2Ftaton">ἀτοπώτατον</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntes">ποιοῦντες</w>.
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29niautw%3D%7C">ἐνιαυτῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29phggelko%2Ftas">ἐπηγγελκότας</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibai%2Fnwsi">ἐπιβαίνωσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28alwkui%2Fas">ἑαλωκυίας</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sunelqo%2Fntas">συνελθόντας</w> <w lemma="po%2Ftera">πότερα</w> <w lemma="polemhte%2Fon">πολεμητέον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>;
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stugno%2Fthta">στυγνότητα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fou">συνεδρίου</w> <w lemma="pareisa%2Fgousi">παρεισάγουσι</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsion">θαυμάσιον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ui%28ou%5Cs">υἱοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdek%27">δώδεκ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29tw%3Dn">ἐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="fasi%5C">φασὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pate%2Fras">πατέρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fxontas">μετέχοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fwn">διαβουλίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29deni%5C">οὐδενὶ</w> <w lemma="proi+%2Fesqai">προΐεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29porrh%2Ftwn">ἀπορρήτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>;
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqe%2Fs">ἀληθές</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2Fa">Δία</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fneime">προσένειμε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="fronei%3Dn">φρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="geneth%3Ds">γενετῆς</w>.
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggramma%2Ftwn">συγγραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Da">οἷα</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffei">γράφει</w> <w lemma="%2Axaire%2Fas">Χαιρέας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aswsu%2Flos">Σωσύλος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein:">λέγειν·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="koureakh%3Ds">κουρεακῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pandh%2Fmou">πανδήμου</w> <w lemma="lalia%3Ds">λαλιᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmoige">ἔμοιγε</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fous">Ζακανθαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29tuxh%2Fmatos">ἀτυχήματος</w>, <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28lo%2Fmenoi">ἑλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w>,
<w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnontes">προτείνοντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxu%2Fnhn">αἰσχύνην</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhn">βλάβην</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frein">φέρειν</w> <w lemma="decame%2Fnois">δεξαμένοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w>.
<w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrous">συνέδρους</w> <w lemma="e%29kdo%2Ftous">ἐκδότους</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnai">διδόναι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftatton">ἐπέταττον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="proh%2Fggellon">προήγγελλον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
<w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parelqo%2Fntwn">παρελθόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasafou%2Fntwn">διασαφούντων</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="dusxerw%3Ds">δυσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fkouon">ἤκουον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proteinome%2Fnwn">προτεινομένων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosthsa%2Fmenoi">προστησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Ftaton">ἐπιτηδειότατον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcanto">ἤρξαντο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w>
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<head><a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>'s Reaction to the Fall of Saguntum</head>But when news came to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> of the fall of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note38">Indignation at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> at the fall of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>.</note>there was indeed no debate on the question of war, as some historians assert; who even add the speeches delivered on either side. But nothing could be more ridiculous. For is it conceivable that the Romans should have a year before proclaimed war with the Carthaginians in the event of their entering the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>, and yet, when the city itself had been taken, should have debated whether they should go to war or no? Just as absurd are the wonderful statements that the senators put on mourning, and that the fathers introduced their sons above twelve years old into the Senate House, who, being admitted to the debate, refrained from divulging any of its secrets even to their nearest relations. All this is as improbable as it is untrue; unless we are to believe that Fortune, among its other bounties, granted the Romans the privilege of being men of being men of the world from their cradles. I need not waste any more words upon such compositions as those of Chaereas and Sosilus;<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note39">Of Chaereas nothing seems known; a few fragments of an historian of his name are given in Müller, vol. iii. Of Sosilus, Diodorus (26, fr. 6) says that he was of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ilium&groupId=645&placeId=1183">Ilium</a> and wrote a history of Hannibal in seven books. Nepos (<bibl n="Nep. Han. 13" default="NO" valid="yes">Hann. 13</bibl>) calls him a Lacedaemonian, and says that he lived in Hannibal's camp and taught him Greek.</note>which, in my judgment, are more like the gossip of the barber's shop and the pavement than history.The truth is that, when the Romans heard of the disaster<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note40">Envoys sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> to demand surrender of Hannibal.</note>at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>, they at once elected envoys, whom they despatched in all haste to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> with the offer of two alternatives, one of which appeared to the Carthaginians to involve disgrace as well as injury if they accepted it, while the other was the<pb n="184" />beginning of a great struggle and of great dangers. For one of these alternatives was the surrender of Hannibal and his staff to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, the other was war. When the Roman envoys arrived and declared their message to the Senate, the choice proposed to them between these alternatives was listened to by the Carthaginians with indignation. Still they selected the most capable of their number to state their case, which was grounded on the following pleas.
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Walbank Commentary