Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 91

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<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fnta">κατήντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="logismou%2Fs">λογισμούς</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstata">ἐπιφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpori%2Fois">ἐμπορίοις</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="katatre%2Fxousin">κατατρέχουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontes">πλέοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="perie%2Fxousi">περιέχουσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftas">ἐπιφανεστάτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstas">καλλίστας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asenoesanoi%5C">Σενοεσανοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akumai%3Doi">Κυμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adikaiarxi%3Dtai">Δικαιαρχῖται</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fmontai">νέμονται</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapoli%3Dtai">Νεαπολῖται</w>, <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoukeri%2Fnwn">Νουκερίνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="%2Akalhnoi%5C">Καληνοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atiani%3Dtai">Τιανῖται</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Adau%2Fnioi">Δαύνιοι</w>*
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Anwlanoi%2F">Νωλανοί</w>. <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pasw%3Dn">πασῶν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="makariwta%2Fthn">μακαριωτάτην</w> <w lemma="gegonui%3Dan">γεγονυῖαν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pieike%2Fstatos">ἐπιεικέστατος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="muqogra%2Ffois">μυθογράφοις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fwn">πεδίων</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgetai">λέγεται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos:">λόγος·</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Aflegrai%3Da">Φλεγραῖα</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanw%3Dn">ἐπιφανῶν</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fwn:">πεδίων·</w> <w lemma="qeou%2Fs">θεούς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29rike%2Fnai">ἠρικέναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="o%29xura%5C">ὀχυρὰ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duse%2Fmbola">δυσέμβολα</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa:">πεδία·</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fresi">ὄρεσι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth%7C">πάντῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fsi">συνεχέσι</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolai%5C">εἰσβολαὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousi">ὑπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="stenai%5C">στεναὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsbatoi">δύσβατοι</w>,
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<w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftidos">Σαυνίτιδος</w>, <w lemma="deute%2Fra">δευτέρα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alati%2Fnhs">Λατίνης</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Floipos">κατάλοιπος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28irpi%2Fnous">Ἱρπίνους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsantes">καταστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fatron">θέατρον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="kataplh%2Fcesqai">καταπλήξεσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgw%7C">παραλόγῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>, <w lemma="e%29kqeatriei%3Dn">ἐκθεατριεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="fugomaxou%3Dntas">φυγομαχοῦντας</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28molo%2Fgou">ὁμολόγου</w> <w lemma="fanh%2Fsesqai">φανήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="kratou%3Dntes">κρατοῦντες</w>.
<head>Fertility and Beauty of the Plains Near Capua</head>Hannibal, however, had not adopted this plan without good reason. For the plains about Capua are the best in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> for fertility and beauty and proximity to the sea, and for the commercial harbours, into which merchants run who are sailing to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> from nearly all parts of the world. They contain, moreover, the most famous and beautiful cities of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. On its seaboard are <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sinuessa&groupId=979&placeId=1731">Sinuessa</a>, Cumae, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Puteoli&groupId=538&placeId=1011">Puteoli</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Naples&groupId=785&placeId=1422">Naples</a>, and Nuceria; and inland to the north there are Cales and Teanum, to the east and south [Caudium<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note148">Holsten for the<foreign lang="greek">Δαύνιοι</foreign>of the old text; others suggest<foreign lang="it">Calatia.</foreign></note>] and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Nola&groupId=796&placeId=1439">Nola</a>. In the centre of these plains lies the richest of all the cities, that of Capua. No tale in all mythology wears a greater appearance of probability than that which is told of these, which, like others remarkable for their beauty, are called the Phlegraean plains; for surely none are more likely for beauty and fertility to have been contended for by gods. In addition to these advantages, they are strongly protected by nature and difficult of approach; for one side is protected by the sea, and the rest by a long and high chain of mountains, through which there are but three passes from the interior, narrow and difficult, one from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samnium&groupId=943&placeId=1678">Samnium</a> [a second from Latium<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note149">Added by conjecture of Schw. One MS. has<foreign lang="greek">δευτέρα ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἐριβανοῦ.</foreign></note>] and a third from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hirpini&groupId=634&placeId=1165">Hirpini</a>. So that if the Carthaginians succeeded in fixing their quarters in these plains, they would have the advantage of a kind of theatre, in which to display the terrors of their power before the gaze of all <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>; and would make a spectacle also of the cowardice of their enemies in shrinking from giving them battle, while they themselves would be proved beyond dispute to be masters of the country.<pb n="250" />