Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 24

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<w lemma="%2Aparaplh%2Fsia">Παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai:">γεγονέναι·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsesi">περιστάσεσι</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcois">παραδόξοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flais">ποικίλαις</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsato">ἐχρήσατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhko%2Fsi">ἐσχηκόσι</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fs">διαφοράς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="dusqew%2Frhton">δυσθεώρητον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsewn">περιστάσεων</w> <w lemma="u%28pobola%5Cs">ὑποβολὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="r%28hqhsome%2Fnwn">ῥηθησομένων</w> <w lemma="katamaqei%3Dn">καταμαθεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="paralipei%3Dn">παραλιπεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29co%5Cn">ἐξὸν</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29peno%2Fei">ἐπενόει</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fllesqai">στέλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w>, <w lemma="megi%2Fsths">μεγίστης</w> <w lemma="profainome%2Fnhs">προφαινομένης</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fas">δυσχρηστίας</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="trofa%5Cs">τροφὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28toimo%2Fthta">ἑτοιμότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fnuton">ἀνήνυτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fshs">δοκούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29grio%2Fthta">ἀγριότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fw%7C">συνεδρίῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="e%29mpiptou%2Fshs">ἐμπιπτούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fas">ἀπορίας</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amonoma%2Fxos">Μονομάχος</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalou%2Fmenos">ἐπικαλούμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29pofh%2Fnasqai">ἀποφήνασθαι</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cs">ὁδὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="profai%2Fnetai">προφαίνεται</w>. <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29lqei%3Dn">ἐλθεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29fikto%2Fn">ἐφικτόν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="keleu%2Fsantos">κελεύσαντος</w>, <w lemma="dida%2Fcai">διδάξαι</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpofagei%3Dn">ἀνθρωποφαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeis">συνήθεις</w> .
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<w lemma=""></w> <gap extent="4" /><w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhma">τόλμημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="praktiko%5Cn">πρακτικὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nteipei%3Dn">ἀντειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29dunh%2Fqh">ἐδυνήθη</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnato">ἐδύνατο</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dsai">πεῖσαι</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%29ndro%5Cs">τἀνδρὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="fasin">φασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafero%2Fmena">ἀναφερόμενα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="w%29mo%2Fthtos">ὠμότητος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsewn">περιστάσεων</w>.
<head>Estimate of Hannibal</head>The case of Hannibal seems to me to be on a par<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note50">Hannibal mastered by circumstances.</note>with these. His circumstances were so extraordinary and shifting, his closest friends so widely different, that it is exceedingly difficult to estimate his character from his proceedings in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. What those circumstances suggested to him may easily be understood from what I have already said, and what is immediately to follow; but it is not right to omit the suggestions made by his friends either, especially as this matter may be rendered sufficiently clear by one instance of the advice offered him. At the time that Hannibal was meditating the march from Iberia to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> with his army, he was confronted with the extreme difficulty of providing food and securing provisions, both because the journey<pb n="585" />was thought to be of insuperable length, and because the barbarians that lived in the intervening country were so numerous and savage.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note51">His cruelty.</note>It appears that at that time this difficulty frequently came on for discussion at the council; and that one of his friends, called Hannibal Monomachus, gave it as his opinion that there was one and only one way by which it was possible to get as far as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. Upon Hannibal bidding him speak out, he said that they must teach the army to eat human flesh, and make them accustomed to it. Hannibal could say nothing against the boldness and effectiveness of the idea, but was unable to persuade himself or his friends to entertain it. It is this man's acts in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> that they say were attributed to Hannibal, to maintain the accusation of cruelty, as well as such as were the result of circumstances.