<w lemma="%2Aperaiwqe%2Fntwn">Περαιωθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29pouragw%3Dn">ἀπουραγῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaion">μεσόγαιον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cs">Ῥοδανὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="phga%5Cs">πηγὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adriatiko%5Cn">Ἀδριατικὸν</w> <w lemma="muxo%5Cn">μυχὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28spe%2Fran">ἑσπέραν</w> <w lemma="neuou%2Fsas">νευούσας</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pokli%2Fnousi">ἀποκλίνουσι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w>, <w lemma="r%28ei%3D">ῥεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> [<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w>] <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%2Fs">χειμερινάς</w>, <w lemma="e%29kba%2Fllei">ἐκβάλλει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%3D%7Con">Σαρδῷον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
<w lemma="fe%2Fretai">φέρεται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dnos">αὐλῶνος</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fardues">Ἄρδυες</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%5C">Κελτοὶ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fas">μεσημβρίας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzousi">ὁρίζουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frkton">ἄρκτον</w> <w lemma="keklime%2Fnai">κεκλιμέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="parw%2Freiai">παρώρειαι</w>. <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdon">Πάδον</w>,
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cn">Ῥοδανὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dnos">αὐλῶνος</w> <w lemma="diazeugnu%2Fousin">διαζευγνύουσιν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29krw%2Freiai">ἀκρώρειαι</w>, <w lemma="lamba%2Fnousai">λαμβάνουσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amassali%2Fas">Μασσαλίας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fou">Ἀδρίου</w> <w lemma="muxo%2Fn:">μυχόν·</w>
<w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fq%27">τόθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28pera%2Fras">ὑπεράρας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cn">Ῥοδανὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fbalen">ἐνέβαλεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>.
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fenioi">Ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegrafo%2Ftwn">γεγραφότων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%3Ds">ὑπερβολῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29kplh%2Fttein">ἐκπλήττειν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="paradocologi%2Fa%7C">παραδοξολογίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="lanqa%2Fnousin">λανθάνουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptontes">ἐμπίπτοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="a%29llotriw%2Ftata:">ἀλλοτριώτατα·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="yeudologei%3Dn">ψευδολογεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maxo%2Fmena">μαχόμενα</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagka%2Fzontai">ἀναγκάζονται</w>.
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mi%2Fmhto%2Fn">ἀμίμητόν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="pareisa%2Fgontes">παρεισάγοντες</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pronoi%2Fa%7C">προνοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiknu%2Fousin">ἀποδεικνύουσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29logisto%2Ftaton">ἀλογιστότατον</w>,
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katastrofh%5Cn">καταστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fdous">ψεύδους</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="pai%3Ddas">παῖδας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="pareisa%2Fgousin">παρεισάγουσιν</w>.
<w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fmenoi">ὑποθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29rumno%2Fthtas">ἐρυμνότητας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="traxu%2Fthtas">τραχύτητας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alpeinw%3Dn">Ἀλπεινῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppous">ἵππους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w>, <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerw%3Ds">εὐχερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="dielqei%3Dn">διελθεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="u%28pogra%2Fyantes">ὑπογράψαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="qeo%5Cs">θεὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2F">ἤ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Frws">ἥρως</w> <w lemma="a%29panth%2Fsas">ἀπαντήσας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fdeice">ὑπέδειξε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%2Fs">ὁδούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29caporh%2Fsantas">ἐξαπορήσαντας</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="katafqarh%3Dnai">καταφθαρῆναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>, <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>
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<head>Previous Histories of this March either False or Inconsistent</head>The elephants having been thus got across, Hannibal formed them and the cavalry into a rearguard, and marched up the river bank away from the sea in an easterly direction, as though making for the central district of Europe.The <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> rises to the north-west of the Adriatic Gulf on the northern slopes of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note82">This statement has done much to ruin Polybius's credit as a geographer. It indicates indeed a strangely defective conception of distance; as his idea, of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> flowing always west, does of the general lie of the country.</note>and flowing westward, eventually discharges itself into the Sardinian Sea. It flows for the most part through a deep valley, to the north of which lives the Celtic tribe of the Ardyes; while its southern side is entirely walled in by the northern slopes of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>, the ridges of which, beginning at Marseilles and extending to the head of the Adriatic, separate it from the valley of the Padus, of which I have already had occasion to speak at length. It was these mountains that Hannibal now crossed from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> valley into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.Some historians of this passage of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>, in their desire<pb n="208" />to produce a striking effect by their descriptions of the wonders of this country, have fallen into two errors which are more alien than anything else to the spirit of history,—perversion of fact and inconsistency. Introducing Hannibal as a prodigy of strategic skill and boldness, they yet represent him as acting with the most conspicuous indiscretion; and then, finding themselves involved in an inextricable maze of falsehood, they try to cut the knot by the introduction of gods and heroes into what is meant to be genuine history. They begin by saying that the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> are so precipitous and inaccessible that, so far from horses and troops, accompanied too by elephants, being able to cross them, it would be very difficult for even active men on foot to do so: and similarly they tell us that the desolation of this district is so complete, that, had not some god or hero met Hannibal's forces and showed them the way, they would have been hopelessly lost and perished to a man.Such stories involve both the errors I have mentioned,— they are both false and inconsistent.
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Walbank Commentary