Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 72

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<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Atebe%2Frios">Τεβέριος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fzontas">ἐγγίζοντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Anomadikou%5Cs">Νομαδικοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppon">ἵππον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstelle">ἐξαπέστελλε</w>, <w lemma="prosta%2Fcas">προστάξας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxesqai">ἔχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumple%2Fkesqai">συμπλέκεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempe">ἐξέπεμπε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pezakontista%5Cs">πεζακοντιστὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fous:">ἑξακισχιλίους·</w> <w lemma="e%29ki%2Fnei">ἐκίνει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w> <w lemma="kriqhsome%2Fnwn">κριθησομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pairo%2Fmenos">ἐπαιρόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fti">γεγονότι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="proterai%2Fa%7C">προτεραίᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29hmerh%2Fmati">εὐημερήματι</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fras">ὥρας</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%5Cs">χειμερινὰς</w> <w lemma="tropa%5Cs">τροπὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="nifetw%2Fdous">νιφετώδους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yuxra%3Ds">ψυχρᾶς</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29nari%2Fstwn">ἀναρίστων</w> <w lemma="e%29kpeporeume%2Fnwn">ἐκπεπορευμένων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3D%7C">ὁρμῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fa%7C">προθυμίᾳ</w> <w lemma="perih%3Dn">περιῆν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos:">πλῆθος·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Atrebi%2Fa">Τρεβία</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fsews">διαβάσεως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosanabebhko%2Ftos">προσαναβεβηκότος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmati">ῥεύματι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="nukti%5C">νυκτὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenon">γενόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fmbron">ὄμβρον</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="masqw%3Dn">μασθῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pezoi%5C">πεζοὶ</w> <w lemma="baptizo%2Fmenoi">βαπτιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="die%2Fbainon:">διέβαινον·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29kakopa%2Fqei">ἐκακοπάθει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2F">ὑπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="yu%2Fxous">ψύχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="probainou%2Fshs">προβαινούσης</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="skhna%5Cs">σκηνὰς</w> <w lemma="bebrwko%2Ftes">βεβρωκότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepwko%2Ftes">πεπωκότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppous">ἵππους</w> <w lemma="h%28toimako%2Ftes">ἡτοιμακότες</w> <w lemma="h%29lei%2Ffonto">ἠλείφοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqwpli%2Fzonto">καθωπλίζοντο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pura%5C">πυρὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithrw%3Dn">ἐπιτηρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="diabebhko%2Ftas">διαβεβηκότας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="probalo%2Fmenos">προβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29fedrei%2Fan">ἐφεδρείαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="logxofo%2Frous">λογχοφόρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Abaliarei%3Ds">Βαλιαρεῖς</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fous">ὀκτακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proagagw%5Cn">προαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%3Dan">εὐθεῖαν</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fous">δισμυρίους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%2Fn">ἀριθμόν</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuas">Λίβυας</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="dielw%5Cn">διελὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fsthse">παρέστησε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fwn">μυρίων</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fsas">μερίσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="proeba%2Fleto">προεβάλετο</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Atebe%2Frios">Τεβέριος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nekalei%3Dto">ἀνεκαλεῖτο</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsontai">χρήσονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdas">Νομάδας</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrei%3Dn">ἀποχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerw%3Ds">εὐχερῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spora%2Fdhn">σποράδην</w>, <w lemma="e%29pikei%3Dsqai">ἐπικεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws:">θρασέως·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Anomadikh%3Ds">Νομαδικῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdio%2Fn">ἴδιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto:">τοῦτο·</w>
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnas">εἰθισμένας</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fous">ἑξακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fous">δισμυρίους</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fleion">τέλειον</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftwn">τοσούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftous">ὑπάτους</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frous">ἑκατέρους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kairoi%5C">καιροὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgwsin">συνάγωσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="qei%5Cs">θεὶς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fous">τετρακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29ph%2F%7Cei">ἐπῄει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w> <w lemma="sobarw%3Ds">σοβαρῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcei">τάξει</w>
<head>Preparations for Battle</head>As soon as Tiberius saw the Numidian horse approaching, he immediately sent out his cavalry by itself<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note114">Battle of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Trebia&groupId=1044&placeId=1838">Trebia</a>, December B.C. 218.</note>with orders to engage the enemy, and keep them in play, while he despatched after them six thousand foot armed with javelins, and got the rest of the army in motion, with the idea that their appearance would decide the affair: for his superiority in numbers, and his success in the cavalry skirmish of the day before, had filled him with confidence. But it was now mid-winter and the day was snowy and excessively cold, and men and horses were marching out almost entirely without having tasted food; and<pb n="232" />accordingly, though the troops were at first in high spirits, yet when they had crossed the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Trebia&groupId=1044&placeId=1838">Trebia</a>, swollen by the floods which the rain of the previous night had brought down from the high ground above the camp, wading breast deep through the stream, they were in a wretched state from the cold and want of food as the day wore on.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note115">Hannibal's forces.</note>While the Carthaginians on the contrary had eaten and drunk in their tents, and got their horses ready, and were all anointing and arming themselves round the fires. Hannibal waited for the right moment to strike, and as soon as he saw that the Romans had crossed the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Trebia&groupId=1044&placeId=1838">Trebia</a>, throwing out eight thousand spearmen and slingers to cover his advance, he led out his whole army. When he had advanced about eight stades from the camp, he drew up his infantry, consisting of about twenty thousand Iberians, Celts, and Libyans, in one long line, while he divided his cavalry and placed half on each wing, amounting in all to more than ten thousand, counting the Celtic allies; his elephants also he divided between the two wings, where they occupied the front rank.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note116">The Roman forces.</note>Meanwhile Tiberius had recalled his cavalry because he saw that they could do nothing with the enemy. For the Numidians when attacked retreated without difficulty, scattering in every direction, and then faced about again and charged, which is the peculiar feature of their mode of warfare. But he drew up his infantry in the regular Roman order, consisting of sixteen thousand citizens and twenty thousand allies; for that is the complete number of a Roman army in an important campaign, when the two Consuls are compelled by circumstances to combine forces.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note117">That is, four legions and their regular contingent of socii. See<ref target="b6c19" targOrder="U">6, 19</ref>sqq.</note>He then placed the cavalry on either wing, numbering four thousand, and advanced against the enemy in gallant style, in regular order, and at a deliberate pace.