Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2Adokei%3D">Δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmh%2Fnasqai">ἐπισημήνασθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%5Cs">ἀρετὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndan">Ἐπαμινώνδαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%3Don">Θηβαῖον</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzousi">θαυμάζουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrh%2Fsas">θεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="h%28qroiko%2Ftas">ἡθροικότας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="paratacome%2Fnous">παραταξομένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fois">Θηβαίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="deipnopoih%2Fsasqai">δειπνοποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγινομένης</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="prokatalabe%2Fsqai">προκαταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>,
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<w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergasa%2Fmenos">ἐνεργασάμενος</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w>,
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<w lemma="prosmi%2Fcas">προσμίξας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fthn">τρίτην</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqhso%2Fntwn">βοηθησόντων</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%3Ds">ἀγορᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29bia%2Fsato">ἐβιάσατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxe">κατέσχε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29stramme%2Fnous">ἐστραμμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="au%29tomo%2Flou">αὐτομόλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="diapeso%2Fntos">διαπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsantos">διασαφήσαντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aghsila%2Fw%7C">Ἀγησιλάῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqou%2Fntwn">βοηθούντων</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyews">καταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>,
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<w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pesfa%2Flh">ἀπεσφάλη</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftan">Εὐρώταν</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoihsa%2Fmenos">ἀριστοποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosanalabw%5Cn">προσαναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frma">ὥρμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28postrofh%3Ds">ὑποστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%2Fn">ὁδόν</w>,
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<w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="parabebohqhko%2Ftwn">παραβεβοηθηκότων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpesqai">καταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian:">Μαντίνειαν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fous">Θηβαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3D%7C">ἐνεργῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="nuktoporei%2Fa%7C">νυκτοπορείᾳ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fmisge">προσέμισγε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fa%7C">Μαντινείᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmw%7C">ἐρήμῳ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fsh%7C">ὑπαρχούσῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqhso%2Fntwn">βοηθησόντων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%3Doi">Ἀθηναῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzontes">σπουδάζοντες</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fous">Θηβαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnos">ἀγῶνος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fois">Λακεδαιμονίοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dsan">παρῆσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fas">πρωτοπορείας</w> <w lemma="sunaptou%2Fshs">συναπτούσης</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aposeidw%3Dnos">Ποσειδῶνος</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%2Fn">ἱερόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fthdes">ἐπίτηδες</w> <w lemma="suneku%2Frhsen">συνεκύρησεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fous">Ἀθηναίους</w> <w lemma="e%29pifai%2Fnesqai">ἐπιφαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fas">Μαντινείας</w> <w lemma="u%28perkei%2Fmenon">ὑπερκείμενον</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon:">λόφον·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="e%29mble%2Fyantes">ἐμβλέψαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kataleleimme%2Fnoi">καταλελειμμένοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amantine%2Fwn">Μαντινέων</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsan">ἐθάρρησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibh%3Dnai">ἐπιβῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%3Dsai">κωλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fmfontai">ἐπιμέμφονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontes">φάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fni">ἡγεμόνι</w> <w lemma="pepra%3Dxqai">πεπρᾶχθαι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3D%7C">ἀγαθῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="krei%2Fttw">κρείττω</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fttw">ἥττω</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndan">Ἐπαμινώνδαν</w>.
<head>Epaminondas and Hannibal Compared</head>It seems to me that the courage and determination both of the Carthaginians and Romans at this crisis were truly remarkable; and merit quite as much admiration as the conduct of Epaminondas, which I will describe here for the sake of pointing the comparison.He reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> with the allies, and when he saw that<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note18">The rapid march of Epaminondas to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and back again to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>. See Xenophon,<bibl n="Xen. Hell. 7.5.8" default="NO" valid="yes"><title>Hell.</title>7, 5, 8<foreign lang="la">sq.</foreign></bibl>B. C. 362.</note>the Lacedaemonians with their own forces in full were come to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, and that their allies had mustered together in the same city, with the intention of offering the Thebans battle; having<pb n="570" />given orders to his men to get their supper early, he led his army out immediately after nightfall, on the pretext of being anxious to seize certain posts with a view to the coming battle. But having impressed this idea upon the common soldiers, he led them along the road to Lacedaemon itself; and having arrived at the city about the third hour of his march, contrary to all expectation, and finding <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> destitute of defenders, he forced his way right up to the market-place, and occupied the quarters of the town which slope down to the river. Then however a contretemps occurred: a deserter made his way into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> and told Agesilaus what was going on.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note19">A Cretan warns Agesilaus.</note>Assistance accordingly arrived just as the city was on the point of being taken; and Epaminondas was disappointed of his hope. But having caused his men to get their breakfast along the bank of the Eurotas, and recovered them from their fatigue, he started to march back again by the same road, calculating that, as the Lacedaemonians and their allies had come to the relief of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> would in its turn be left undefended: which turned out to be the case. So he exhorted the Thebans to exert themselves; and, after a rapid night march, arrived at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> about mid-day, finding it entirely destitute of defenders.But the Athenians, who were at that time zealously supporting the Lacedaemonians in their contest with the Thebans, had arrived in virtue of their treaty of alliance; and just as the Theban vanguard reached the temple of Poseidon, seven stades from the town, it happened that the Athenians showed themselves, by design, as if on the brow of the hill overhanging <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>. And when they saw them, the Mantineans who had been left behind at last ventured to man the wall and resist the attack of the Thebans. Therefore historians are justified in speaking with some dissatisfaction of these events,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note20">That is "blaming Fortune or Providence." Schw. quotes<cit><bibl n="Xen. Hell. 7.5.12" default="NO" valid="yes">Xenophon<title>Hellen.</title>7, 5, 12,</bibl><quote lang="greek">ἔξεστι μὲν τὸ θεῖον αἰτιᾶσθαι.</quote></cit></note>when they say that the leader did everything which a good general could, but that, while conquering his enemies, Epaminondas was conquered by Fortune.<pb n="571" />