Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 52

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<w lemma="%2Ata%2F">Τά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fmeinon">ἄμεινον</w> <w lemma="a%29skou%3Dsi">ἀσκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzontai">παρασκευάζονται</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="palaiou%3D">παλαιοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qalattourgei%3Dn">θαλαττουργεῖν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="dh%2F">δή</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="a%29skou%3Dsi">ἀσκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezikw%3Dn">πεζικῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwrou%3Dsi">ὀλιγωροῦσι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppikw%3Dn">ἱππικῶν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Da%2Fn">βραχεῖάν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="cenikai%3Ds">ξενικαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frois">μισθοφόροις</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fois">ἐγχωρίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politikai%3Ds">πολιτικαῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29podekte%2Fon">ἀποδεκτέον</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon:">μᾶλλον·</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="eu%29yuxi%2Fais">εὐψυχίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas">ἐλευθερίας</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frais">σφετέραις</w> <w lemma="a%29retai%3Ds">ἀρεταῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="e%29parkei%2Fais">ἐπαρκείαις</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%2Fn">κἄν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fswsi">πταίσωσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nama%2Fxontai">ἀναμάχονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizo%2Fmenoi">ἀγωνιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknwn">τέκνων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="lh%3Dcai">λῆξαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29rgh%3Ds">ὀργῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnousi">μένουσι</w> <w lemma="yuxomaxou%3Dntes">ψυχομαχοῦντες</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="perige%2Fnwntai">περιγένωνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="leipo%2Fmenoi">λειπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%3Dsi">ἐπικρατοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%2Fs:">ἀρετάς·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5C">μικρὰ</w> <w lemma="sumballome%2Fnhs">συμβαλλομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3Ds">ναυτικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibatw%3Dn">ἐπιβατῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29yuxi%2Fa">εὐψυχία</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsthn">πλείστην</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxetai">παρέχεται</w> <w lemma="r%28oph%5Cn">ῥοπὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>.
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<w lemma="diafe%2Frousi">διαφέρουσι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsei">φύσει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%29italiw%3Dtai">Ἰταλιῶται</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkwn">Φοινίκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="swmatikh%3D%7C">σωματικῇ</w> <w lemma="r%28w%2Fmh%7C">ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxikai%3Ds">ψυχικαῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmais:">τόλμαις·</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismw%3Dn">ἐθισμῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fwn">νέων</w> <w lemma="paro%2Frmhsin">παρόρμησιν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%5Cn">ῥηθὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3Dn">ἀποτελεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhs">φήμης</w>.
<head>The Causes of Roman Superiority</head>If we look however at separate details, for instance<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note80">and its citizen levies superior to Carthaginian mercenaries.</note>at the provisions for carrying on a war, we shall find that whereas for a naval expedition the Carthaginians are the better trained and prepared,—as it is only natural with a people with whom it has been hereditary for many generations to practise this craft, and to follow the seaman's trade above all nations in the world,—yet, in regard to military service on land, the Romans train themselves to a much higher pitch than the Carthaginians. The former bestow their whole attention upon this department: whereas the Carthaginians wholly neglect their infantry, though they do take some slight interest in the cavalry. The reason of this is that they employ foreign mercenaries, the Romans native and citizen levies. It is in this point that the latter polity is preferable to the former. They have their hopes of freedom ever resting on the courage of mercenary troops: the Romans on the valour of their own citizens and the aid of their allies. The result is that even if the Romans have suffered a defeat at first, they renew the war with undiminished forces, which the Carthaginians cannot do. For, as the Romans are fighting for country and children, it is impossible for them to relax the fury of their struggle; but they persist with obstinate resolution until they have overcome their enemies. What has happened in regard to their navy is an instance in point. In skill the Romans are much behind the Carthaginians, as I have already said; yet the upshot of the whole naval war has been a decided triumph for the Romans, owing to the valour of their men. For although nautical science contributes largely to success in sea-fights, still it is the courage of the marines that turns the scale most decisively in favour of victory. The fact is that Italians as a nation are by nature superior to Phoenicians and Libyans both in physical strength and courage; but still their habits also do much to inspire the youth with enthusiasm for such exploits. One example will be sufficient of the pains taken by the Roman state to turn out men ready to endure anything to win a reputation in their country for valour.<pb n="503" />