Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 64

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<w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdon">Πάδον</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="peperaiwme%2Fnos">πεπεραιωμένος</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fkinon">Τίκινον</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fmprosqen">τοὔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fois">ἐπιτηδείοις</w> <w lemma="gefuropoiei%3Dn">γεφυροποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5Cs">λοιπὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="sunagagw%5Cn">συναγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29ciw%2Fmatos">ἀξιώματος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progonikw%3Dn">προγονικῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="parestw%3Dtos">παρεστῶτος</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="toia%2Fde">τοιάδε</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Ftas">εἰληφότας</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntos">παρόντος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskontas">γινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllousi">μέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29namfisbh%2Fthton">ἀναμφισβήτητον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="deino%5Cn">δεινὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dsqai">ἡγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%2Flogon">παράλογον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ntofqalmei%3Dn">ἀντοφθαλμεῖν</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnoi">ἡττημένοι</w>, <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29cenhnoxo%2Ftes">ἐξενηνοχότες</w> <w lemma="fo%2Frous">φόρους</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29xi%5C">οὐχὶ</w> <w lemma="douleu%2Fontes">δουλεύοντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftous">τοσούτους</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwmen">ἔχωμεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="i%29dei%3Dn">ἰδεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flhyin">διάληψιν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29rqw%3Ds">ὀρθῶς</w> <w lemma="logizome%2Fnous">λογιζομένους</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fntas">συμπεσόντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsi">ἱππεῦσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cn">Ῥοδανὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fcai">ἀπαλλάξαι</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalo%2Fntas">ἀποβαλόντας</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrw%3Ds">αἰσχρῶς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3Ds">παρεμβολῆς</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigno%2Fntas">ἐπιγνόντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frwn">ἡμετέρων</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="fugh%3D%7C">φυγῇ</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fan">παραπλησίαν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxw%2Frhsin">ἀποχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</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="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w>.
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<w lemma="parei%3Dnai">παρεῖναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="katefqarko%2Fta">κατεφθαρκότα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="perileipo%2Fmenon">περιλειπόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhston">δύσχρηστον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kakouxi%2Fan">κακουχίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="a%29polwleko%2Fta">ἀπολωλεκότα</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29xreiwko%2Fta">ἠχρειωκότα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dusxe%2Freian">δυσχέρειαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w>.
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<w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiknu%2Fein">ἐπιδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29peira%3Dto">ἐπειρᾶτο</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanh%3Dnai">ἐπιφανῆναι</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="qarrei%3Dn">θαρρεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpontas">βλέποντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan:">παρουσίαν·</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29polipw%5Cn">ἀπολιπὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fa%7C">Ἰβηρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="a%29pesta%2Flh">ἀπεστάλη</w>, <w lemma="deu%3Dro">δεῦρο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29lqei%3Dn">ἐλθεῖν</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Fra">ἑώρα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fdhlon">πρόδηλον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ni%2Fkhn">νίκην</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontos">λέγοντος</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29podeca%2Fmenos">ἀποδεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="diafh%3Dke">διαφῆκε</w>, <w lemma="prosparakale%2Fsas">προσπαρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggello%2Fmenon">παραγγελλόμενον</w>.
<head>Scipio Crosses the Ticinus</head>About the same day Publius Scipio, having now crossed the Padus, and being resolved to make a farther advance across the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ticinus&groupId=1038&placeId=1828">Ticinus</a>, ordered those who were skilled in such works to construct a bridge across this latter river; and then summoned a meeting of the remainder of his army and addressed them: dwelling principally on the reputation of their country and of the ancestors' achievements. But he referred particularly to their present position, saying, "that they ought to entertain no doubt of victory, though they had never as yet had any experience of the enemy; and should regard it as a piece of extravagant presumption of the Carthaginians to venture to face Romans, by whom they had been so often beaten, and to whom they had for so many years paid tribute and been all but slaves. And when in addition to this they at present knew thus much of their mettle,—that they dared not face them, what was the fair inference to be drawn for the future? Their cavalry, in a chance encounter on the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> with those of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, had, so far from coming off well, lost a large number of men, and had fled with disgrace to their own camp; and the general and his army, as soon as they knew of the approach of his legions, had beat a retreat, which was exceedingly like a flight, and, contrary to their original purpose, had in their terror taken the road over the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>. And it was evident that Hannibal had destroyed the greater part of his army; and that what he had left was feeble and unfit for service, from the hardships they had undergone: in the same way he had lost the majority of his horses, and made the rest useless from the length and difficult nature of the journey. They had, therefore, only to show themselves to the enemy." But, above all, he pointed out that "his own presence at their head ought to be special encouragement to them: for that he would not have left his fleet and Spanish campaign, on which he had been sent, and have come to them in such haste, if he had not seen on consideration that his doing so was necessary for his country's safety, and that a certain victory was secured to him by it."The weight and influence of the speaker, as well as their belief in his words, roused great enthusiasm among the men; which Scipio acknowledged, and then dismissed them with the<pb n="224" />additional injunction that they should hold themselves in readiness to obey any order sent round to them.