Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 25

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<w lemma="%2Aparaplhsi%2Fws">Παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flas">ἴλας</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="diei%3Dlon">διεῖλον</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="prokri%2Fnousin">προκρίνουσιν</w> <w lemma="i%29la%2Frxas">ἰλάρχας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Flabon">προσέλαβον</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragou%2Fs">οὐραγούς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="ai%28reqei%5Cs">αἱρεθεὶς</w> <w lemma="i%29la%2Frxhs">ἰλάρχης</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dtai">ἡγεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flhs">ἴλης</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="dekada%2Frxwn">δεκαδάρχων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>, <w lemma="kalou%3Dntai">καλοῦνται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="dekouri%2Fwnes">δεκουρίωνες</w>. <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntos">παρόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w> <w lemma="i%29la%2Frxou">ἰλάρχου</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismo%5Cs">καθοπλισμὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsios">παραπλήσιος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn:">Ἑλλήνων·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="palaio%5Cn">παλαιὸν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="qw%2Frakas">θώρακας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="perizw%2Fmasin">περιζώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kindu%2Fneuon">ἐκινδύνευον</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katabai%2Fnein">καταβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29naphda%3Dn">ἀναπηδᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppous">ἵππους</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkeinto">διέκειντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikw%3Ds">πρακτικῶς</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sumploka%5Cs">συμπλοκὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfalw%3Ds">ἐπισφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gumnoi%5C">γυμνοὶ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="do%2Frata">δόρατα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpous">τρόπους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakt%27">ἄπρακτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="lepta%5C">λεπτὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kladara%5C">κλαδαρὰ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntes">ποιοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proteqe%2Fntos">προτεθέντος</w> <w lemma="h%29du%2Fnanto">ἠδύναντο</w> <w lemma="skopou%3D">σκοποῦ</w> <w lemma="stoxa%2Fzesqai">στοχάζεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pidorati%2Fda">ἐπιδορατίδα</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="proserei%3Dsai">προσερεῖσαι</w>, <w lemma="kradaino%2Fmena">κραδαινόμενα</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fsews">κινήσεως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="sunetri%2Fbeto:">συνετρίβετο·</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="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="saurwth%2Frwn">σαυρωτήρων</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fzontes">κατασκευάζοντες</w> <w lemma="mia%3D%7C">μιᾷ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth%7C">πρώτῃ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pidorati%2Fdos">ἐπιδορατίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29xrw%3Dnto">ἐχρῶντο</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3D%7C">πληγῇ</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="klasqe%2Fntwn">κλασθέντων</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakt%27">ἄπρακτ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaia">μάταια</w>. <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="qureo%5Cn">θυρεὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="boei%2Fou">βοείου</w> <w lemma="de%2Frmatos">δέρματος</w>,
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29mfalwtoi%3Ds">ὀμφαλωτοῖς</w> <w lemma="popa%2Fnois">ποπάνοις</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="qusi%2Fas">θυσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pitiqeme%2Fnois:">ἐπιτιθεμένοις·</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%2F">ὑπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fmbrwn">ὄμβρων</w> <w lemma="a%29podermatou%2Fmenoi">ἀποδερματούμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mudw%3Dntes">μυδῶντες</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhstoi">δύσχρηστοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnontai">γίνονται</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w>. <w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29doki%2Fmou">ἀδοκίμου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w>,
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<w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="mete%2Flabon">μετέλαβον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikh%5Cn">Ἑλληνικὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dora%2Ftwn">δοράτων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pidorati%2Fdos">ἐπιδορατίδος</w> <w lemma="plhgh%5Cn">πληγὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fstoxon">εὔστοχον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikh%5Cn">πρακτικὴν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29tremou%3Ds">ἀτρεμοῦς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stasi%2Fmou">στασίμου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fratos">δόρατος</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metalh%2Fyews">μεταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="saurwth%3Dros">σαυρωτῆρος</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnimon">μόνιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Faion">βίαιον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qurew%3Dn:">θυρεῶν·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fseis">ἐπιθέσεις</w> <w lemma="e%28sthkui%3Dan">ἑστηκυῖαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnhn">τεταγμένην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fntes">συνιδόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29mimh%2Fsanto">ἐμιμήσαντο</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws:">ταχέως·</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqoi%5C">ἀγαθοὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteroi">ἕτεροι</w>, <w lemma="metalabei%3Dn">μεταλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhlw%3Dsai">ζηλῶσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>.
<head>Officers and Armour of the Cavalry</head>Similarly they divide the cavalry into ten squadrons<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note32">Officers and arms of the equites.</note>(<foreign lang="la">turmae</foreign>), and from each they select three officers (<foreign lang="la">decuriones</foreign>), who each select a subaltern (<foreign lang="la">optio</foreign>). The decurio first elected commands the squadron, the other two have the rank of<foreign lang="la">decuriones:</foreign>a name indeed which applies to all alike. If the first<foreign lang="la">decurio</foreign>is not on the field, the second takes command of the squadron. The armour of the cavalry is very like that in Greece. In old times they did not wear the lorica, but fought in their tunics (<foreign lang="la">campestria</foreign>); the result of which was that they were prompt and nimble at dismounting and mounting again with despatch, but were in great danger at close quarters from the unprotected state of their bodies. And their lances too were useless in two ways: first because they were thin, and prevented their taking a good aim; and before they could get the head fixed in the enemy, the lances were so shaken by the mere motion of the horse that they generally broke. Secondly, because, having no spike at the butt end of their lance, they only had one stroke, namely that with the spear-head; and if the lance broke, what was left in their hands was entirely useless. Again they used to have shields of bull's hide, just like those round cakes, with a knob in the middle which are used at sacrifices, which were useless at close quarters because they were flexible rather than firm; and, when their leather shrunk and rotted from the rain, unserviceable as they were before, they then became entirely so. Wherefore, as experience showed them the uselessness of these, they lost no time in changing to the Greek fashion of arms: the advantages of which were, first, that men were able to deliver the first stroke of their lance-head with a good<pb n="480" />aim and effect, because the shaft from the nature of its construction was steady and not quivering; and, secondly, that they were able, by reversing the lance, to use the spike at the buttend for a steady and effective blow. And the same may be said about the Greek shields: for, whether used to ward off a blow or to thrust against the enemy, they neither give nor bend. When the Romans learnt these facts about the Greek arms they were not long in copying them; for no nation has ever surpassed them in readiness to adopt new fashions from other people, and to imitate what they see is better in others than themselves.