<head lang="la">II. Res Italiae</head><w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fklw%7C">κύκλῳ</w> <w lemma="perilamba%2Fnwn">περιλαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29appi%2Fou">Ἀππίου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%29kroboli%2Fzeto">ἠκροβολίζετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katepei%2Fraze">κατεπείραζε</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn:">μάχην·</w>
<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunupakou%2Fontos">συνυπακούοντος</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fa%7C">πολιορκίᾳ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="e%29piferome%2Fnwn">ἐπιφερομένων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flais">ἴλαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%3Ds">κραυγῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sakontizo%2Fntwn">εἰσακοντιζόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaspa%3Dn">διασπᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xara%2Fkwma">χαράκωμα</w> <w lemma="peirwme%2Fnwn">πειρωμένων</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%5Cs">ὣς</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnato">ἐδύνατο</w> <w lemma="kinh%3Dsai">κινῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnois">εὐζώνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29petri%2Fbonto">ἀπετρίβοντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontas">προσπίπτοντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fsi">βαρέσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalizo%2Fmenoi">ἀσφαλιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%5Cn">ἐπιφορὰν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="belw%3Dn">βελῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcei">τάξει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dusarestou%2Fmenos">δυσαρεστούμενος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="parapesei%3Dn">παραπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Feto">ἐβουλεύετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnonta">συμβαίνοντα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxein">παρέχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="puqome%2Fnois">πυθομένοις</w>.
<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29pisth%2Fsai">ἀπιστήσαι</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="pollai%3Ds">πολλαῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnoi">ἡττημένοι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntes">τολμῶντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="sugkaqi%2Fstasqai">συγκαθίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkein">εἴκειν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrei%3Dn">ἐκχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w>;
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparh%3Dgon">ἀντιπαρῆγον</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pwrei%2Fais">ὑπωρείαις</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqi%2Fsantes">καθίσαντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstaton">ἐπιφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxurota%2Fthn">ἰσχυροτάτην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="ku%2Fklw%7C">κύκλῳ</w> <w lemma="prosmaxome%2Fnwn">προσμαχομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fsantes">ἐπινοήσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntofqalmei%3Dn:">ἀντοφθαλμεῖν·</w>
<w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi%2F">Καρχηδόνιοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w>, <w lemma="a%29dialei%2Fptws">ἀδιαλείπτως</w> <w lemma="nikw%3Dntes">νικῶντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fois">ἐνίοις</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxrhstou%3Dnto">ἐδυσχρηστοῦντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnwn">ἡττωμένων</w>.
<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftion">παραίτιον</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="sunteqewrh%3Dsqai">συντεθεωρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpesqai">λείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2F">αἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnwn">ἡττωμένων</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparagwgai%5C">ἀντιπαραγωγαὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto:">ἐγίνοντο·</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparh%3Dgon">ἀντιπαρῆγον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fyein">βλάψειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppiko%2Fn">ἱππικόν</w>.
<w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnont%27">συμβαίνοντ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frois">ἑκατέροις</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fnta">ἀπήντα</w>.
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<head>The Hannibalian War</head><note anchored="yes" type="summary" place="inline" resp="ess" id="note2">In the previous year (212 B. C.) <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> had fallen: the two Scipios had been conquered and killed in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>: the siegeworks had been constructed round Capua, at the very time of the fall of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>, i. e. in the autumn, Hannibal being engaged in fruitless attempts upon the citadel of Tarentum. See<bibl n="Liv. 25.22" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 25, 22</bibl>.</note>Entirely surrounding the position of Appius Claudius,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note3">B. C. 211. Coss. Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus, P. Sulpicius Galba. The Romans were still engaged in the siege of Capua.</note>Hannibal at first skirmished, and tried all he could to tempt him to come out and give him battle. But as no one attended to him, his attack became very like an attempt to storm the camp; for his cavalry charged in their squadrons, and with loud cries hurled their<pb n="565" />javelins inside the entrenchments, and the infantry attacked in their regular companies, and tried to pull down the palisading round the camp.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note4">Q. Fulvius and Appius Claudius, the Consuls of the previous year, were continued in command there, with orders not to leave the place till it fell.<bibl n="Liv. 26.1" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 26, 1</bibl>. Hannibal tries to raise the siege.</note>But not even so could he move the Romans from their purpose: they employed their light-armed troops to repulse those who were actually attacking the palisade, but protecting themselves with their heavy shields against the javelins of the enemy, they remained drawn up near their standards without moving. Discomfited at being neither able to throw himself into Capua, nor induce the Romans to leave their camp, Hannibal retired to consult as to what was best to be done.It is no wonder, in my opinion, that the Carthaginians<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note5">The determination and cautious tactics of the Romans.</note>were puzzled. I think any one who heard the facts would be the same. For who would not have received with incredulity the statement that the Romans, after losing so many battles to the Carthaginians, and though they did not venture to meet them on the field, could not nevertheless be induced to give up the contest or abandon the command of the country? Up to this time, moreover, they had contented themselves with hovering in his neighbourhood, keeping along the skirts of the mountains; but now they had taken up a position on the plains, and those the fairest in all <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and were besieging the strongest city in it; and that with an enemy attacking them, whom they could not endure even the thought of meeting face to face: while the Carthaginians, who beyond all dispute had won the battles, were sometimes in as great difficulties as the losers. I think the reason of the strategy adopted by the two sides respectively was, that they both had seen that Hannibal's cavalry was the main cause of the Carthaginian victory and Roman defeat. Accordingly the plan of the losers after the battles, of following their enemies at a distance, was the natural one to adopt; for the country through which they went was such that the enemy's cavalry would be unable to do them any damage. Similarly what now happened at Capua to either side was natural and inevitable.<pb n="566" />
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Walbank Commentary