<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="diakomidh%5C">διακομιδὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth">τοιαύτη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w>. <w lemma="ph%2Fcantes">πήξαντες</w> <w lemma="sxedi%2Fas">σχεδίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29raro%2Ftws">ἀραρότως</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flas">ἀλλήλας</w> <w lemma="zeu%2Fcantes">ζεύξαντες</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fws">βιαίως</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Freisan">ἤρεισαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Fras">ἀμφοτέρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmbasin">ἔμβασιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w>, <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="e%29xou%2Fsas">ἐχούσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunamfo%2Fteron">συναμφότερον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w>.
<w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suzeugnu%2Fntes">συζευγνύντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Frmozon">προσήρμοζον</w>, <w lemma="protei%2Fnontes">προτείνοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="zeu%2Fgmatos">ζεύγματος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w>.
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="h%29sfali%2Fzonto">ἠσφαλίζοντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pigu%2Fois">ἐπιγύοις</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dlos">χεῖλος</w> <w lemma="pefuko%2Fta">πεφυκότα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%2Fndrwn">δένδρων</w> <w lemma="e%29na%2Fptontes">ἐνάπτοντες</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="summe%2Fnein">συμμένειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parwqei%3Dsqai">παρωθεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w>.
<w lemma="poih%2Fsantes">ποιήσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fqra">πλέθρα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fkei">μήκει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="zeu%3Dgma">ζεῦγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="probolh%3Ds">προβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="pephgui%2Fas">πεπηγυίας</w> <w lemma="sxedi%2Fas">σχεδίας</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> [<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w>] <w lemma="prose%2Fbalon">προσέβαλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxa%2Ftais">ἐσχάταις</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28ta%5Cs">αὑτὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fws">βιαίως</w> <w lemma="dedeme%2Fnas">δεδεμένας</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29diako%2Fpous">εὐδιακόπους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="desmou%2Fs">δεσμούς</w>. <w lemma="r%28u%2Fmata">ῥύματα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="e%29nh%3Dyan">ἐνῆψαν</w>,
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w> <w lemma="r%28umoulkou%3Dntes">ῥυμουλκοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29a%2Fsein">ἐάσειν</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fresqai">φέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w>, <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontes">κατέχοντες</w> <w lemma="parakomiei%3Dn">παρακομιεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peraiw%2Fsein">περαιώσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w>.
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="xou%3Dn">χοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferon">ἔφερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="polu%2Fn">πολύν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fllontes">ἐπιβάλλοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29cwmoi%2Fwsan">ἐξωμοίωσαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28malh%5Cn">ὁμαλὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgxroun">σύγχρουν</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntes">ποιοῦντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xe%2Frsou">χέρσου</w> <w lemma="ferou%2Fsh%7C">φερούσῃ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasin">διάβασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28dw%3D%7C">ὁδῷ</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnwn">εἰθισμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29indoi%3Ds">Ἰνδοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="u%28gro%5Cn">ὑγρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29mbai%2Fnein">ἐμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tolmw%2Fntwn">τολμώντων</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dgon">ἦγον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fmatos">χώματος</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenoi">προθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="qhlei%2Fas">θηλείας</w>, <w lemma="peiqarxou%2Fntwn">πειθαρχούντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fas">τελευταίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἐπέστησαν</w> <w lemma="sxedi%2Fas">σχεδίας</w>, <w lemma="diako%2Fyantes">διακόψαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="desmou%2Fs">δεσμούς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Frthnto">προσήρτηντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbois">λέμβοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pispasa%2Fmenoi">ἐπισπασάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="r%28u%2Fmata">ῥύματα</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fspasan">ἀπέσπασαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fmatos">χώματος</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="sxedi%2Fas">σχεδίας</w>.
<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="diataraxqe%2Fnta">διαταραχθέντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="zw%3D%7Ca">ζῷα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29stre%2Ffeto">ἐστρέφετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frma:">ὥρμα·</w> <w lemma="periexo%2Fmena">περιεχόμενα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="a%29pedeili%2Fa">ἀπεδειλία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fzeto">ἠναγκάζετο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="prosarmozome%2Fnwn">προσαρμοζομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="sxediw%3Dn">σχεδιῶν</w> <w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="diekomi%2Fsqh">διεκομίσθη</w>,
<w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Frriyen">ἀπέρριψεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="au%28ta%5C">αὑτὰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon:">φόβον·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29indou%5Cs">Ἰνδοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pole%2Fsqai">ἀπολέσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="diaswqh%3Dnai">διασωθῆναι</w>.
<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proboski%2Fdwn">προβοσκίδων</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Frontes">ἐξαίροντες</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="u%28gro%5Cn">ὑγρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diapne%2Fontes">διαπνέοντες</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kfusw%3Dntes">ἐκφυσῶντες</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parempi%3Dpton">παρεμπῖπτον</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fsxon">ἀντέσχον</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdatos">ὕδατος</w> <w lemma="o%29rqoi%5C">ὀρθοὶ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w>.
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<head>The Crossing of the Elephants</head>The mode of getting the elephants across was as<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note81">The passage of the elephants.</note>follows. They made a number of rafts strongly compacted, which they lashed firmly two and two together, so as to form combined a breadth of about fifty feet, and brought them close under the bank at the place of crossing. To the outer edge of these they lashed some others and made them join exactly; so that the whole raft thus constructed stretched out some way into the channel, while the edges towards the stream were made fast to the land with ropes tied to trees which grew along the brink, to secure the raft keeping its place and not drifting down the river. These combined rafts stretching about two hundred feet across the stream, they joined two other very large ones to the outer edges, fastened very firmly together, but connected with the others by ropes which admitted of being easily cut. To these they fastened several towing lines, that the wherries might prevent the rafts drifting down stream, and might drag them forcibly against the current and so get the elephants across on them. Then they threw a great deal of earth upon all the rafts, until they had raised the surface to the level of the bank, and made it look like the path on the land leading down to the passage. The elephants were accustomed to obey their Indian riders until they came to water, but could never be induced to step into water: they therefore led them upon this earth, putting two females in front whom the others<pb n="207" />obediently followed. When they had set foot on the rafts that were farthest out in the stream, the ropes were cut which fastened these to the other rafts, the towing lines were pulled taut by the wherries, and the elephants, with the rafts on which they stood, were quickly towed away from the mound of earth. When this happened, the animals were terror-stricken; and at first turned round and round, and rushed first to one part of the raft and then to another, but finding themselves completely surrounded by the water, they were too frightened to do anything, and were obliged to stay where they were. And it was by repeating this contrivance of joining a pair of rafts to the others, that eventually the greater part of the elephants were got across. Some of them, however, in the middle of the crossing, threw themselves in their terror into the river: but though their Indian riders were drowned, the animals themselves got safe to land, saved by the strength and great length of their probosces; for by raising these above the water, they were enabled to breathe through them, and blow out any water that got into them, while for the most part they got through the river on their feet.
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Walbank Commentary