<w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunapto%2Fntwn">συναπτόντων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="parece%2Fbhmen">παρεξέβημεν</w>, <w lemma="paralabo%2Fntes">παραλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmeqa">ποιησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kefalaiw%2Fdh">κεφαλαιώδη</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqou%3D">ἀγαθοῦ</w> <w lemma="texni%2Ftou">τεχνίτου</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dgma">δεῖγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fn">ἕν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="proenegka%2Fmenoi">προενεγκάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="fanera%5Cn">φανερὰν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fswmen">ποιήσωμεν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Fa">οἵα</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnan">Κάνναν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="perigeno%2Fmenos">περιγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="fulatto%2Fntwn">φυλαττόντων</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fwn">ὀκτακισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="zwgrh%2Fsas">ζωγρήσας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhse">συνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="diape%2Fmpesqai">διαπέμπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkw%7C">οἴκῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proxeirisame%2Fnwn">προχειρισαμένων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w>, <w lemma="o%28rki%2Fsas">ὁρκίσας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D">ἦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%2Fcein">ἐπανήξειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>.
<w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proxeirisqe%2Fntwn">προχειρισθέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29kporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐκπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsas">φήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29pilelh%3Dsqai">ἐπιλελῆσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fkamye">ἀνέκαμψε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kataleifqe%5Cn">καταλειφθὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29pelu%2Feto">ἀπελύετο</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsews">ἀναχωρήσεως</w> <w lemma="tethrhke%2Fnai">τετηρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="leluke%2Fnai">λελυκέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnwn">δεομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fntwn">παρακαλούντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="fqonh%3Dsai">φθονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28alwko%2Fsi">ἑαλωκόσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dsai">ἐᾶσαι</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="mna%3Ds">μνᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="katabalo%2Fnta">καταβαλόντα</w> <w lemma="swqh%3Dnai">σωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fous:">ἀναγκαίους·</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dn">συγχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban:">Ἀννίβαν·</w>
<w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fous">ἀξίους</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs:">αὑτούς·</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliake%2Fnai">ἀποδεδειλιακέναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fcion">ἀνάξιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pepoihke%2Fnai">πεποιηκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29poleifqe%2Fntas">ἀπολειφθέντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29polome%2Fnwn">ἀπολομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="perilhfqe%2Fntas">περιληφθέντας</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w> <w lemma="peripeptwko%2Ftes">περιπεπτωκότες</w> <w lemma="e%29lattw%2Fmasi">ἐλαττώμασι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpos">ἔπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29sterhme%2Fnoi">ἐστερημένοι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosdokw%3Dntes">προσδοκῶντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kfe%2Fresqai">ἐκφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>,
<w lemma="diakou%2Fsantes">διακούσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpontos">πρέποντος</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fcantes">εἴξαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sumforai%3Ds">συμφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="w%29ligw%2Frhsan">ὠλιγώρησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntwn">δεόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="parei%3Ddon">παρεῖδον</w>,
<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fntes">συνιδόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%3Dsai">εὐπορῆσαι</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="filo%2Ftimon">φιλότιμον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%29cele%2Fsqai">ἐξελέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntitattome%2Fnwn">ἀντιταττομένων</w>, <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcas">ὑποδείξας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnois">ἡττημένοις</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%5Cs">ἐλπὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpetai">ἀπολείπεται</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>,
<w lemma="tosou%3Dt%27">τοσοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxon">ἀπέσχον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai%2F">ποιῆσαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29cioume%2Fnwn">ἀξιουμένων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fleon">ἔλεον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsanto">ἐποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fonos">πλείονος</w>,
<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="logismou%5Cs">λογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdeican">ἀπέδειξαν</w> <w lemma="kena%2Fs">κενάς</w>, <w lemma="a%29peipa%2Fmenoi">ἀπειπάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Ftrwsin">διαλύτρωσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nomoqe%2Fthsan">ἐνομοθέτησαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="maxome%2Fnous">μαχομένους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="qnh%2Fskein">θνήσκειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="ou%29demia%3Ds">οὐδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnois">ἡττωμένοις</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenoi">προθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29nne%2Fa">ἐννέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrou%3Dntas">ἀναχωροῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemyan">ἐξέπεμψαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sofisa%2Fmenon">σοφισάμενον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lu%3Dsai">λῦσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fsantes">δήσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pokate%2Fsthsan">ἀποκατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>,
<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="xarh%3Dnai">χαρῆναι</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsanta">νικήσαντα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="suntribh%3Dnai">συντριβῆναι</w> <w lemma="kataplage%2Fnta">καταπλαγέντα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsimon">στάσιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="megalo%2Fyuxon">μεγαλόψυχον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fois">διαβουλίοις</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 94 exc. ant. p. 192.</foreign>]
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<head>Even Hannibal Acknowledges the Spirit of the Romans</head>Resuming my history from the point at which I started on this digression I will briefly refer to one transaction, that I may give a practical illustration of the perfection and power of the Roman polity at that period, as though I were producing one of his works as a specimen of the skill of a good artist.When Hannibal, after conquering the Romans in the battle at<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note93">B. C. 216. Hannibal offers to put the prisoners at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a> to ransom.</note><a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a>, got possession of the eight thousand who were guarding the Roman camp, he made them all prisoners of war, and granted them permission to send messages to their relations that they might be ransomed and return home. They accordingly selected ten of their chief men, whom Hannibal allowed to depart after binding them with an oath to return. But one<pb n="508" />of them, just as he had got outside the palisade of the camp, saying that he had forgotten something, went back; and, having got what he had left behind, once more set out, under the belief that by means of this return he had kept his promise and discharged his oath. Upon the arrival of the envoys at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, imploring and beseeching the Senate not to grudge the captured troops their return home, but to allow them to rejoin their friends by paying three minae each for them,—for these were the terms, they said, granted by Hannibal,—and declaring that the men deserved redemption, for they had neither played the coward in the field, nor done anything unworthy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, but had been left behind to guard the camp; and that, when all the rest had perished, they had yielded to absolute necessity in surrendering to Hannibal: though the Romans had been severely defeated in the battles, and though they were at the time deprived of, roughly speaking, all their allies, they neither yielded so far to misfortune as to disregard what was becoming to themselves, nor omitted to take into account any necessary consideration. They saw through Hannibal's purpose in thus acting,—which was at once to get a large supply of money, and at the same time to take away all enthusiasm from the troops opposed to him, by showing that even the conquered had a hope of getting safe home again. Therefore the Senate, far from acceding to the request, refused all pity even to their own relations, and disregarded the services to be expected from these men in the future: and thus frustrated Hannibal's calculations, and the hopes which he had founded on these prisoners, by refusing to ransom them; and at the same time established the rule for their own men, that they must either conquer or die on the field, as there was no other hope of safety for them if they were beaten. With this answer they dismissed the nine envoys who returned of their own accord; but the tenth who had put the cunning trick in practice for discharging himself of his oath they put in chains and delivered to the enemy. So that Hannibal was not so much rejoiced at his victory in the battle, as struck with astonishment at the unshaken firmness and lofty spirit displayed in the resolutions of these senators.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note94"><bibl n="Liv. 22.58" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 22, 58</bibl>-61.</note><pb />
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Walbank Commentary