<w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="o%29mixlw%2Fdous">ὀμιχλώδους</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</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="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="prosde%2Fcasqai">προσδέξασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptein">συνάπτειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fan">πρωτοπορείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%5Cs">ἀποδοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fmata">συνθήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diapemya%2Fmenos">διαπεμψάμενος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdrais">ἐνέδραις</w> <w lemma="sunepexei%2Frei">συνεπεχείρει</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aflami%2Fnion">Φλαμίνιον</w>, <w lemma="parado%2Fcou">παραδόξου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dussuno%2Fptou">δυσσυνόπτου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29e%2Fra">ἀέρα</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fou">ὑπερδεξίου</w> <w lemma="kataferome%2Fnwn">καταφερομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="parabohqei%3Dn">παραβοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnanto">ἐδύναντο</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnwn">δεομένων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="taci%2Farxoi">ταξίαρχοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Farxoi">χιλίαρχοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="sunnoh%3Dsai">συννοῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>.
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29ra%3Ds">οὐρᾶς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fpipton">προσέπιπτον</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmati">σχήματι</w> <w lemma="katakoph%3Dnai">κατακοπῆναι</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="prodedome%2Fnous">προδεδομένους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtos">προεστῶτος</w> <w lemma="a%29krisi%2Fas">ἀκρισίας</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="diabouleuo%2Fmenoi">διαβουλευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="a%29pw%2Fllunto">ἀπώλλυντο</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aflami%2Fnion">Φλαμίνιον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstou%2Fmenon">δυσχρηστούμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perikakou%3Dnta">περικακοῦντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fpeson">ἔπεσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkein">εἴκειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismw%3Dn">ἐθισμῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstou">πλείστου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpein">λείπειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnhs">λίμνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fas">παρωρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stenoi%3Ds">στενοῖς</w> <w lemma="sugkleisqe%2Fntes">συγκλεισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrw%3Ds">αἰσχρῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="talaipw%2Frws">ταλαιπώρως</w> <w lemma="diefqei%2Fronto">διεφθείροντο</w>.
<w lemma="sunwqou%2Fmenoi">συνωθούμενοι</w> [<w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w>] <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnhn">λίμνην</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fstasin">παράστασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fas">διανοίας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmw%3Dntes">ὁρμῶντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fxesqai">νήχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29pepni%2Fgonto">ἀπεπνίγοντο</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dunatou%3D">δυνατοῦ</w> <w lemma="probai%3Dnon">προβαῖνον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnhn">λίμνην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmene">ἔμενε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kefala%5Cs">κεφαλὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="u%28gro%5Cn">ὑγρὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28peri%2Fsxon:">ὑπερίσχον·</w>
<w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prodh%2Flou">προδήλου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="a%29pwlei%2Fas">ἀπωλείας</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Frontes">ἐξαίροντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="zwgrei%3Dn">ζωγρεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="proi+e%2Fmenoi">προϊέμενοι</w> <w lemma="fwnh%5Cn">φωνὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frhsan">διεφθάρησαν</w>.
<w lemma="e%28cakisxi%2Flioi">ἑξακισχίλιοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsantes">νικήσαντες</w> <w lemma="parabohqei%3Dn">παραβοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perii%2Fstasqai">περιίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="h%29duna%2Ftoun">ἠδυνάτουν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="sunora%3Dn">συνορᾶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnwn">γινομένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxesqai">παρέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan:">χρείαν·</w>
<w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w> <w lemma="o%29rego%2Fmenoi">ὀρεγόμενοι</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w>, <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnoi">πεπεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="sumpesei%3Dsqai%2F">συμπεσεῖσθαί</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqon">ἔλαθον</w> <w lemma="e%29kpeso%2Fntes">ἐκπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fous">ὑπερδεξίους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>. <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrwn">ἄκρων</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29mi%2Fxlhs">ὀμίχλης</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="peptwkui%2Fas">πεπτωκυίας</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29tu%2Fxhma">ἀτύχημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="dunatoi%5C">δυνατοὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratei%3Dn">ἐπικρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="prokate%2Fxein">προκατέχειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>, <w lemma="sustrafe%2Fntes">συστραφέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frhsan">ἀπεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="kw%2Fmhn">κώμην</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhni%2Fda">Τυρρηνίδα</w>.
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="a%29postale%2Fntos">ἀποσταλέντος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="logxofo%2Frwn">λογχοφόρων</w> <w lemma="%2Amaa%2Frba">Μαάρβα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsantos">περιστρατοπεδεύσαντος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kw%2Fmhn">κώμην</w>, <w lemma="poiki%2Flhs">ποικίλης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fas">ἀπορίας</w> <w lemma="periestw%2Fshs">περιεστώσης</w>, <w lemma="a%29poqe%2Fmenoi">ἀποθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pospo%2Fndous">ὑποσπόνδους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="teuco%2Fmenoi">τευξόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>.
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenon">γενόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhni%2Fa%7C">Τυρρηνίᾳ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>
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<head>The Disaster At the Thrasymene Lake</head>The day was exceedingly misty: and as soon as the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note133">The battle, 22d June.</note>greater part of the Roman line was in the valley, and the leading maniples were getting close to him, Hannibal gave the signal for attack; and at the same time<pb n="242" />sent orders to the troops lying in ambush on the hills to do the same, and thus delivered an assault upon the enemy at every point at once. Flaminius was taken completely by surprise: the mist was so thick, and the enemy were charging down from the upper ground at so many points at once, that not only were the Centurions and Tribunes unable to relieve any part of the line that was in difficulties, but were not even able to get any clear idea of what was going on: for they were attacked simultaneously on front, rear, and both flanks. The result was that most of them were cut down in the order of march, without being able to defend themselves: exactly as though they had been actually given up to slaughter by the folly of their leader. Flaminius himself, in a state of the utmost distress and despair, was attacked and killed by a company of Celts. As many as fifteen thousand Romans fell in the valley, who could neither yield nor defend themselves, being habituated to regard it as their supreme duty not to fly or quit their ranks. But those who were caught in the defile between the lake and the cliff perished in a shameful, or rather a most miserable, manner: for being thrust into the lake, some in their frantic terror endeavoured to swim with their armour on, and presently sank and were drowned; while the greater number, wading as far as they could into the lake, remained there with their heads above water; and when the cavalry rode in after them, and certain death stared them in the face, they raised their hands and begged for quarter, offering to surrender, and using every imaginary appeal for mercy; but were finally despatched by the enemy, or, in some cases, begged the favour of the fatal blow from their friends, or inflicted it on themselves. A number of men, however, amounting perhaps to six thousand, who were in the valley, defeated the enemy immediately in front of them; but though they might have done much to retrieve the fortune of the day, they were unable to go to the relief of their comrades, or get to the rear of their opponents, because they could not see what was going on. They accordingly<pb n="243" />pushed on continually to the front, always expecting to find themselves engaged with some of the enemy: until they discovered that, without noticing it, they were issuing upon the higher ground. But when they were on the crest of the hills, the mist broke and they saw clearly the disaster which had befallen them; and being no longer able to do any good, since the enemy was victorious all along the line, and in complete possession of the ground, they closed their ranks and made for a certain Etrurian village. After the battle Maharbal was sent by Hannibal with the Iberians and light-armed troops to besiege the village; and seeing themselves surrounded by a complication of dangers, they laid down their arms and surrendered on condition of their lives being spared. Such was the end of the final engagement between the Romans and Carthaginians in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>.
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Walbank Commentary