Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 48

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<w lemma="a%28marthma%2Ftwn">ἁμαρτημάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptousi">ἐμπίπτουσι</w>. <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="fanei%2Fh">φανείη</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29logisto%2Fteros">ἀλογιστότερος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skaio%2Fteros">σκαιότερος</w> <w lemma="h%28gemw%2Fn">ἡγεμών</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftwn">τοσούτων</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenos">ἡγούμενος</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="katorqw%2Fsein">κατορθώσειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%5Cs">ὁδοὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi%2F">οὗτοί</w> <w lemma="fasin">φασιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pou%3D">ποῦ</w> <w lemma="poreu%2Fetai">πορεύεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnas">τίνας</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnwske">ἐγίνωσκε</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> [<w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>] <w lemma="dunatoi%3Ds">δυνατοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Flletai">ἐπιβάλλεται</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>;
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ptaiko%2Ftes">ἐπταικότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29caporou%3Dntes">ἐξαποροῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnousin">ὑπομένουσιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pronoh%2Ftous">ἀπρονοήτους</w> <w lemma="kaqie%2Fnai">καθιέναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="peritiqe%2Fasin">περιτιθέασιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fba%7C">Ἀννίβᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fous">ἀκεραίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonti">ἔχοντι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rhmi%2Fas">ἐρημίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29rumno%2Fthtos">ἐρυμνότητος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkdhlon">ἔκδηλον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="yeu%3Ddos">ψεῦδος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="i%28storh%2Fsantes">ἱστορήσαντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cn">Ῥοδανὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%3Dntas">οἰκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="di%5Cs">δὶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="prosfa%2Ftws">προσφάτως</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="u%28perba%2Fntas">ὑπερβάντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w> <w lemma="parateta%2Fxqai">παρατετάχθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="sunhgwni%2Fsqai">συνηγωνίσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%3Ds">Κελτοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</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="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29dhlw%2Fsamen">ἐδηλώσαμεν</w>,
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftes">εἰδότες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dlon">φῦλον</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%3Dn">οἰκεῖν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoou%3Dntes">ἀγνοοῦντες</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Frw">ἥρω</w> <w lemma="tina%2F">τινά</w> <w lemma="fasin">φασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fnta">ἐπιφανέντα</w> <w lemma="sunupodei%3Dcai">συνυποδεῖξαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%5Cs">ὁδοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptousin">ἐμπίπτουσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tragw%7Cdiogra%2Ffois">τραγῳδιογράφοις</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="katastrofai%5C">καταστροφαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="drama%2Ftwn">δραμάτων</w> <w lemma="prosde%2Fontai">προσδέονται</w> <w lemma="qeou%3D">θεοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhxanh%3Ds">μηχανῆς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fseis">ὑποθέσεις</w> <w lemma="yeudei%3Ds">ψευδεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgous">παραλόγους</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fas">συγγραφέας</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsxein">πάσχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Frwa%2Fs">ἥρωάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifainome%2Fnous">ἐπιφαινομένους</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29piqa%2Fnous">ἀπιθάνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yeudei%3Ds">ψευδεῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28posth%2Fswntai">ὑποστήσωνται</w>. <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgois">παραλόγοις</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Ds">ἀρχαῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Flogon">εὔλογον</w> <w lemma="e%29piqei%3Dnai">ἐπιθεῖναι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>;
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<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousin">γράφουσιν</w>, <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pragmatikw%3Ds">πραγματικῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%2Fn">ἀρετήν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="kaqie%2Fnai">καθιέναι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthta">ἀλλοτριότητα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29chta%2Fkei">ἐξητάκει</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w> <w lemma="o%28dhgoi%3Ds">ὁδηγοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqhgemo%2Fsin">καθηγεμόσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fois">ἐγχωρίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdwn">ἐλπίδων</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllousi">μέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="koinwnei%3Dn">κοινωνεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29pofaino%2Fmeqa">ἀποφαινόμεθα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28storhke%2Fnai">ἱστορηκέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parateteuxo%2Ftwn">παρατετευχότων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="katwpteuke%2Fnai">κατωπτευκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fsews">γνώσεως</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fas">θέας</w>.
<head>Absurd Premises of Other Historians</head>For could a more irrational proceeding on the part of a general be imagined than that of Hannibal, if, when in command of so numerous an army, on whom the success of his expedition entirely depended, he allowed himself to remain in ignorance of the roads, the lie of the country, the route to be taken, and the people to which it led, and above all as to the practicability of what he was undertaking to do? They, in fact, represent Hannibal, when at the height of his expectation of success, doing what those would hardly do who have utterly failed and have been reduced to despair,—that is, to entrust themselves and their forces to an unknown country. And so, too, what they say about the desolation of the district, and its precipitous and inaccessible character, only serves to bring their untrustworthiness into clearer light. For first, they pass over the fact that the Celts of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> valley had on several occasions before Hannibal came, and that in very recent times, crossed the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> with large forces, and fought battles with the Romans in alliance with the Celts of the valley of the Padus, as I have already stated. And secondly, they are unaware of the fact that a very numerous tribe of people inhabit the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>. Accordingly in their ignorance of these facts they take refuge<pb n="209" />in the assertion that a hero showed Hannibal the way. They are, in fact, in the same case as tragedians, who, beginning with an improbable and impossible plot, are obliged to bring in a<foreign lang="la">deus ex machina</foreign>to solve the difficulty and end the play. The absurd premises of these historians naturally require some such supernatural agency to help them out of the difficulty: an absurd beginning could only have an absurd ending. For of course Hannibal did not act as these writers say he did; but, on the contrary, conducted his plans with the utmost prudence. He had thoroughly informed himself of the fertility of the country into which he designed to descend, and of the hostile feelings of its inhabitants towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; and for his journey through the difficult district which intervened he employed native guides and pioneers, whose interests were bound up with his own. I speak with confidence on these points, because I have questioned persons actually engaged on the facts; and have inspected the country, and gone over the Alpine pass myself, in order to inform myself of the truth and see with my own eyes.