--- title: "The Histories · Ἱστορίαι" author: "Polybius" translator: "Evelyn S. Shuckburgh" languages: [grc, en] shelf: "Classical Greek" section: 55 of 103 url: https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/55/ cite: "Polybius, tr. Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, The Histories · Ἱστορίαι, section 55. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/55/" --- # The Histories · Ἱστορίαι *Polybius, tr. Evelyn S. Shuckburgh* How did Rome conquer the known world in under fifty-three years? A Greek hostage who became Scipio’s friend explains, with the Punic Wars, Hannibal, the Roman constitution and the fall of Carthage. > Greek: ed. Theodor Büttner-Wobst, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0543.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0). > English: Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence. ## 55. Book X · chapters 39–49 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/55/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/55/#p-N [¶0] 39. His whole army having been got ready for battle, he confined the main body within his camp, but sent out the velites and some picked men of the infantry with orders to assault the brow of the hill and attack the enemy’s pickets. His orders were carried out with great spirit. At first the Carthaginian commander watched what was happening without stirring: but when he saw that, owing to the fury of the Roman attack, his men were being hard pressed, he led out his army and drew them up along the brow of the hill, trusting to the strength of the position. Meanwhile Scipio despatched all his light-armed troops with orders to support the advanced guard: and the rest of his army being ready for action, he took half of them under his own command, and going round the brow of the hill to the enemy’s left, began assaulting the Carthaginians; while he entrusted the other half to Laelius, with orders to make a similar attack on the right of the enemy. While this was going on, Hasdrubal was still engaged in getting his troops out of camp: for hitherto he had been waiting, because he trusted in the strength of the position, and felt confident that the enemy would never venture to attempt it. The attack, therefore, took him by surprise, before he was able to get his men on to the ground. As the Romans were now assaulting the two wings of the position which the enemy had not yet occupied, they not only mounted the brow of the hill in safety, but actually advanced to the attack while their opponents were still in all the confusion and bustle of falling in. Accordingly they killed some of them on their exposed flank; while others, who were actually in the act of falling in, they forced to turn and flee. Seeing his army giving way and retreating, Hasdrubal reverted to his preconceived plan; and determining not to stake his all upon this one desperate hazard, he secured his money and his elephants, collected as many of his flying soldiers as he could, and commenced a retreat towards the Tagus, with a view of reaching the passes of the Pyrenees and the Gauls in that neighbourhood. Scipio did not think it advisable to pursue Hasdrubal at once, for fear of being attacked by the other Carthaginian generals; but he gave up the enemy’s camp to his men to pillage. > Greek: 39. τὴν μὲν οὖν ἄλλην δύναμιν ἑτοιμάσας πρὸς μάχην συνεῖχεν ἐν τῷ χάρακι, τοὺς δὲ γροσφομάχους καὶ τῶν πεζῶν τοὺς ἐπιλέκτους ἐξαφιεὶς ἐκέλευε προσβάλλειν πρὸς τὴν ὀφρὺν καὶ καταπειράζειν τῆς τῶν πολεμίων ἐφεδρείας. τῶν δὲ ποιούντων τὸ παραγγελθὲν εὐψύχως, τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς ὁ τῶν Καρχηδονίων στρατηγὸς ἐκαραδόκει τὸ συμβαῖνον· θεωρῶν δὲ διὰ τὴν τόλμαν τῶν Ῥωμαίων τοὺς παρʼ αὑτῶν πιεζομένους καὶ κακῶς πάσχοντας, ἐξῆγε τὴν δύναμιν καὶ παρενέβαλε παρὰ τὴν ὀφρύν, πιστεύων τοῖς τόποις. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ὁ Πόπλιος τοὺς μὲν εὐζώνους ἅπαντας ἐπαφῆκε, συντάξας βοηθεῖν τοῖς προκινδυνεύουσι, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς ἑτοίμους ἔχων, τοὺς μὲν ἡμίσεις αὐτὸς ἔχων, περιελθὼν τὴν ὀφρὺν κατὰ τὸ λαιὸν τῶν ὑπεναντίων, προσέβαλλε τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις, τοὺς δʼ ἡμίσεις Λαιλίῳ δοὺς ὁμοίως παρήγγειλε τὴν ἔφοδον ἐπὶ τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τῶν πολεμίων. οὗ συμβαίνοντος ὁ μὲν Ἀσδρούβας ἀκμὴν ἐκ τῆς στρατοπεδείας ἐξῆγε τὴν δύναμιν· τὸν γὰρ πρὸ τούτου χρόνον ἐπέμενε πιστεύων τοῖς τόποις καὶ πεπεισμένος μηδέποτε τολμήσειν τοὺς πολεμίους ἐγχειρεῖν αὐτοῖς· διὸ παρὰ τὴν προσδοκίαν γεγενημένης τῆς ἐπιθέσεως καθυστέρει τῆς ἐκτάξεως. οἱ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι κατὰ κέρας ποιούμενοι τὸν κίνδυνον, οὐδέπω τῶν πολεμίων κατειληφότων τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν κεράτων τόπους, οὐ μόνον ἐπέβησαν ἀσφαλῶς ἐπὶ τὴν ὀφρύν, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσάγοντες ἔτι παρεμβαλλόντων καὶ κινουμένων τῶν ὑπεναντίων τοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν προσπίπτοντας ἐκ πλαγίων ἐφόνευον, τοὺς δὲ παρεμβάλλοντας ἐξ ἐπιστροφῆς φεύγειν ἠνάγκαζον. Ἀσδρούβας δὲ κατὰ τοὺς ἐξ ἀρχῆς διαλογισμούς, θεωρῶν κλινούσας καὶ διατετραμμένας τὰς αὑτοῦ δυνάμεις, τὸ μὲν ψυχομαχεῖν μέχρι τῆς ἐσχάτης ἐλπίδος ἀπεδοκίμαζε, λαβὼν δὲ τά τε χρήματα καὶ τὰ θηρία, καὶ τῶν φευγόντων ὅσους ἠδύνατο πλείστους ἐπισπασάμενος, ἐποιεῖτο τὴν ἀναχώρησιν παρὰ τὸν Τάγον ποταμὸν ὡς ἐπὶ τὰς Πυρήνης ὑπερβολὰς καὶ τοὺς ταύτῃ κατοικοῦντας Γαλάτας. Πόπλιος δὲ τὸ μὲν ἐκ ποδὸς ἕπεσθαι τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν οὐχ ἡγεῖτο συμφέρειν τῷ δεδιέναι τῶν ἄλλων στρατηγῶν τὴν ἔφοδον, τὸν δὲ χάρακα τῶν ὑπεναντίων ἐφῆκε τοῖς αὑτοῦ στρατιώταις διαρπάζειν. [¶1] 40. Next morning he collected the prisoners, amounting to ten thousand foot and more than two thousand horse, and busied himself in making arrangements about them. All the Iberians of that district, who were in alliance at that time with the Carthaginians, came in and submitted to the Roman obedience, and in addressing Scipio called him “king.” The first to do this and to bow the knee before him had been Edeco, and the next Andobales. On these occasions Scipio had passed the word over without remark; but after the battle, when all alike addressed him by that title, his attention was drawn to it; and he therefore summoned the Iberians to a meeting, and told them that “he quite wished to be called a man of royal liberality by them all, and to be so in the truest sense, but that he had no wish to be a ‘king,’ nor to be called one by any one; they should address him as general.” Even at this early period of his career, an observer might have remarked the loftiness of Scipio’s character. He was still quite young. His good fortune had been so persistent, that all who came under his rule were led naturally to think and speak of him as a king. Yet he did not lose his selfcontrol; but deprecated this popular impulse and this show of dignity. But this same loftiness of character was still more admirable in the closing scenes of his life, when, in addition to his achievements in Iberia, he crushed the Carthaginians; reduced the largest and fairest districts of Libya, from the Altars of Philaenus to the Pillars of Hercules, under the power of his country; conquered Asia and the kings of Syria; made the best and largest part of the world subject to Rome; and in doing so had numerous opportunities of acquiring regal sway, in whatever parts of the world suited his purpose or wish. For such achievements were enough to have kindled pride, not merely in any human breast, but even, if I may say so without irreverence, in that of a god. But Scipio’s greatness of soul was so superior to the common standard of mankind, that he again and again rejected what Fortune had put within his grasp, that prize beyond which men’s boldest prayers do not go—the power of a king: and he steadily preferred his country and his duty to that royalty, which men gaze at with such admiration and envy. Scipio next proceeded to select from the captives the native Iberians, and all these he dismissed to their homes without ransom; and bidding Andobales select three hundred of the horses, he distributed the remainder among those who had none. For the rest, he at once occupied the entrenchment of the Carthaginians, owing to its excellent situation; and there he remained himself, waiting to see the movements of the other Carthaginian generals; while he detached a body of men to the passes of the Pyrenees to keep a look-out for Hasdrubal. After this, as it was getting late in the season, he retired with his army to Tarraco being bent on wintering there.... > Greek: 40. εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαύριον συναθροίσας τὸ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων πλῆθος, ὧν ἦσαν πεζοὶ μὲν εἰς μυρίους, ἱππεῖς δὲ πλείους δισχιλίων, ἐγίνετο περὶ τὴν τούτων οἰκονομίαν. τῶν δʼ Ἰβήρων ὅσοι κατὰ τοὺς προειρημένους τόπους Καρχηδονίοις τότε συνεμάχουν, ἧκον ἐγχειρίζοντες σφᾶς αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν Ῥωμαίων πίστιν, κατὰ δὲ τὰς ἐντεύξεις βασιλέα προσεφώνουν τὸν Πόπλιον. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν ἐποίησε τοῦτο καὶ προσεκύνησε πρῶτος Ἐδεκών, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀνδοβάλην. τότε μὲν οὖν ἀνεπιστάτως αὐτὸν παρέδραμε τὸ ῥηθέν· μετὰ δὲ τὴν μάχην ἁπάντων βασιλέα προσφωνούντων, εἰς ἐπίστασιν ἤγαγε τὸν Πόπλιον τὸ γινόμενον. διὸ καὶ συναθροίσας τοὺς Ἴβηρας βασιλικὸς μὲν ἔφη βούλεσθαι καὶ λέγεσθαι παρὰ πᾶσι καὶ ταῖς ἀληθείαις ὑπάρχειν, βασιλεύς γε μὴν οὔτʼ εἶναι θέλειν οὔτε λέγεσθαι παρʼ οὐδενί. ταῦτα δʼ εἰπὼν παρήγγειλε στρατηγὸν αὑτὸν προσφωνεῖν. ἴσως μὲν οὖν καὶ τότε δικαίως ἄν τις ἐπεσημήνατο τὴν μεγαλοψυχίαν τἀνδρός, ᾗ κομιδῇ νέος ὢν καὶ τῆς τύχης αὐτῷ συνεκδραμούσης ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὥστε πάντας τοὺς ὑποταττομένους ἐξ αὑτῶν ἐπί τε ταύτην κατενεχθῆναι τὴν διάληψιν καὶ τὴν ὀνομασίαν, ὅμως ἐν ἑαυτῷ διέμεινε καὶ παρῃτεῖτο τὴν τοιαύτην ὁρμὴν καὶ φαντασίαν. πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ἄν τις θαυμάσειε τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς περὶ τὸν ἄνδρα μεγαλοψυχίας, βλέψας εἰς τοὺς ἐσχάτους τοῦ βίου καιρούς, ἡνίκα πρὸς τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἰβηρίαν ἔργοις κατεστρέψατο μὲν Καρχηδονίους, καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα καὶ κάλλιστα μέρη τῆς Λιβύης ἀπὸ τῶν Φιλαίνου βωμῶν ἕως Ἡρακλείων στηλῶν ὑπὸ τὴν τῆς πατρίδος ἐξουσίαν ἤγαγε, κατεστρέψατο δὲ τὴν Ἀσίαν καὶ τοὺς τῆς Συρίας βασιλεῖς, καὶ τὸ κάλλιστον καὶ μέγιστον μέρος τῆς οἰκουμένης ὑπήκοον ἐποίησε Ῥωμαίοις, ἔλαβε δὲ καιροὺς εἰς τὸ περιποιήσασθαι δυναστείαν βασιλικὴν ἐν οἷς ἐπιβάλοιτο καὶ βουληθείη τόποις τῆς οἰκουμένης. ταῦτα γὰρ οὐ μόνον ἀνθρωπίνην φύσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ θειοτέραν, εἰ θέμις εἰπεῖν, ὑπερφρονεῖν ἂν ἐποίησεν. Πόπλιος δὲ τοσοῦτον ὑπερέθετο μεγαλοψυχίᾳ τοὺς ἄλλους ἀνθρώπους ὡς οὗ μεῖζον ἀγαθὸν εὔξασθαί τις τοῖς θεοῖς οὐ τολμήσειε, λέγω δὲ βασιλείας, τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνος πολλάκις ὑπὸ τῆς τύχης αὐτῷ δεδομένον ἀπηξίωσε, καὶ περὶ πλείονος ἐποιήσατο τὴν πατρίδα καὶ τὴν ταύτης πίστιν τῆς περιβλέπτου καὶ μακαριστῆς βασιλείας. πλὴν τότε γε διαλέξας ἐκ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων τοὺς Ἴβηρας, τούτους μὲν ἀπέλυσε χωρὶς λύτρων πάντας εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν πατρίδας, τῶν δʼ ἵππων τριακοσίους κελεύσας ἐκλέξαι τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀνδοβάλην τοὺς λοιποὺς διέδωκε τοῖς ἀνίπποις. καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη μεταλαβὼν τὴν τῶν Καρχηδονίων στρατοπεδείαν διὰ τὴν τῶν τόπων εὐφυΐαν, αὐτὸς μὲν ἔμενε καραδοκῶν τοὺς καταλειπομένους τῶν Καρχηδονίων στρατηγούς, ἐπὶ δὲ τὰς ὑπερβολὰς τῶν Πυρηναίων ὀρέων ἐξαπέστειλε τοὺς τηρήσοντας τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα, τῆς ὥρας ἤδη συναπτούσης, ἀνεχώρησε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἰς Ταρράκωνʼ, ἐν τούτοις τοῖς τόποις ποιεῖσθαι τὴν παραχειμασίαν. [¶2] 41. The Aetolians had recently become greatly encouraged by the arrival of the Romans and King Attalus: and accordingly began menacing every one, and threatening all with an attack by land, while Attalus and Publius Sulpicius did the same by sea. Wherefore Achaean legates arrived at the court of King Philip entreating his help: for it was not the Aetolians alone of whom they were standing in dread, but Machanidas also, as he was encamped with his army on the frontier of Argos. The Boeotians also, in fear of the enemy’s fleet, were demanding a leader and help from the king. Most urgent of all, however, were the Euboeans in their entreaties to him to take some precaution against the enemy. A similar appeal was being made by the Acarnanians; and there was an embassy even from the Epirotes. News had arrived that both Scerdilaidas and Pleuratus were leading out their armies: and, over and above this, that the Thracian tribes on the frontier of Macedonia, especially the Maedi, were planning to invade Macedonia, if the king were induced to stir from his realm however short a distance. Moreover the Aetolians were already securing the pass of Thermopylae with trenches and stockades and a formidable garrison, satisfied that they would thus out Philip, and entirely prevent him from coming to the assistance of his allies south of the pass. It appears to me that a crisis of this sort is well worth the observation and attention of my readers; for it affords a trial and test of the vigour of the leader affected. As in the hunting-field the wild animals never show their full courage and strength until surrounded and brought to bay,—so it is with leaders. And no more conspicuous instance could be found than this of Philip. He dismissed the various embassies, promising each that he would do his best: and then devoted his attention to the war which surrounded him on all sides, watching to see in what direction, and against which enemy, he had best direct his first attack. > Greek: 41. οἱ μὲν Αἰτωλοί, προσφάτως ἐπηρμένοι ταῖς ἐλπίσιν ἐπὶ τῇ Ῥωμαίων καὶ τῇ τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀττάλου παρουσίᾳ, πάντας ἐξέπληττον καὶ πᾶσιν ἐπέκειντο κατὰ γῆν, οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον καὶ Πόπλιον κατὰ θάλατταν. διόπερ ἧκον Ἀχαιοὶ μὲν παρακαλοῦντες τὸν Φίλιππον βοηθεῖν· οὐ γὰρ μόνον τοὺς Αἰτωλοὺς ἠγωνίων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν Μαχανίδαν διὰ τὸ προκαθῆσθαι μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως ἐπὶ τοῖς τῶν Ἀργείων ὅροις. Βοιωτοὶ δὲ δεδιότες τὸν στόλον τῶν ὑπεναντίων, ἡγεμόνα καὶ βοήθειαν ᾔτουν. φιλοπονώτατά γε μὴν οἱ τὴν Εὔβοιαν κατοικοῦντες ἠξίουν ἔχειν τινὰ πρόνοιαν τῶν πολεμίων. παραπλήσια δʼ Ἀκαρνᾶνες παρεκάλουν. ἦν δὲ καὶ παρʼ Ἠπειρωτῶν πρεσβεία. προσήγγελτο δὲ καὶ Σκερδιλαΐδαν καὶ Πλευρᾶτον ἐξάγειν τὰς δυνάμεις· ἔτι δὲ τοὺς προσοροῦντας τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ Θρᾷκας, καὶ μάλιστα τοὺς Μαιδούς, ἐπιβολὰς ἔχειν ὡς ἐμβαλοῦντας ἐπὶ Μακεδονίαν, ἐὰν βραχύ τι μόνον ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς οἰκείας ἀποσπασθῇ. προκατελάμβανον δὲ καὶ τὰ περὶ Θερμοπύλας στενὰ τάφροις καὶ χάρακι καὶ φυλακαῖς βαρείαις Αἰτωλοί, πεπεισμένοι συγκλείειν τὸν Φίλιππον καὶ καθόλου κωλύειν παραβοηθεῖν τοῖς ἐντὸς Πυλῶν συμμάχοις. δοκεῖ δέ μοι τὰς τοιαύτας περιστάσεις εὐλόγως ἄν τις ἐπισημήνασθαι καὶ συνεφιστάνειν τοὺς ἀναγινώσκοντας, ἐν αἷς πεῖρα καὶ βάσανος ἀληθινὴ γίνεται κατὰ τάς τε ψυχικὰς ὁρμὰς καὶ τὰς σωματικὰς δυνάμεις τῶν ἡγεμόνων. καθάπερ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς κυνηγεσίαις τὰ ζῷα τότε διάδηλα γίνεται κατὰ τὴν ἀλκὴν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν, ὅταν τὸ δεινὸν αὐτὰ περιστῇ πανταχόθεν, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον συμβαίνει καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἡγουμένων. ὃ δὴ τότε μάλιστα συνιδεῖν ἦν γινόμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ Φιλίππου· τὰς μὲν γὰρ πρεσβείας ἀπέλυσε πάσας, ἑκάστοις τὰ δυνατὰ ποιήσειν ἐπαγγειλάμενος, τῷ δὲ πολέμῳ πανταχόθεν ἐπεῖχε, καραδοκῶν πῇ καὶ πρὸς τίνα πρῶτον δεήσει ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ὁρμήν. [¶3] 42. Just then intelligence reached him that Attalus had crossed the sea and, dropping anchor at Peparethos, had occupied the island. He therefore despatched a body of men to the islanders to garrison their city; and at the same time despatched Polyphontes with an adequate force into Phocis and Boeotia; and Menippus, with a thousand peltasts and five hundred Agrianes to Chalcis and the rest of Euboea; while he himself advanced to Scotusa, and sent word at the same time to the Macedonians to meet him at that town. But when he learnt that Attalus had sailed into the port of Nicaea, and that the leaders of the Aetolians were collecting at Heraclea, with the purpose of holding a conference together on the immediate steps to be taken, he started with his army from Scotusa, eager to hurry thither and break up their meeting. He arrived too late to interrupt the conference: but he destroyed or carried off the corn belonging to the people along the Aenianian gulf, and then returned. After this he left his army in Scotusa once more; and, with the light-armed troops and the royal guard, went to Demetrias, and there remained, waiting to see what the enemy would attempt. To secure that he should be kept perfectly acquainted with all their movements, he sent messengers to the Peparethii, and to his troops in Phocis and Euboea, and ordered them to telegraph to him everything which happened, by means of fire signals directed to Mount Tisaeum, which is a mountain of Thessaly conveniently situated for commanding a view of those places. > Greek: 42. προσπεσόντος δʼ αὐτῷ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον διάραντας καὶ προσορμήσαντας τῇ Πεπαρήθῳ κατεσχηκέναι τὴν χώραν, τούτοις μὲν ἐξαπέστειλε τοὺς παραφυλάξοντας τὴν πόλιν, εἰς δὲ Φωκέας καὶ τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Βοιωτίαν τόπους Πολυφάνταν ἐξέπεμψε μετὰ συμμέτρου δυνάμεως, εἰς δὲ Χαλκίδα καὶ τὴν ἄλλην Εὔβοιαν Μένιππον, ἔχοντα πελταστὰς χιλίους, Ἀγριᾶνας πεντακοσίους. αὐτὸς δὲ προῆγε ποιούμενος τὴν πορείαν εἰς Σκοτοῦσαν, παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τοῖς Μακεδόσιν εἰς ταύτην τὴν πόλιν παρήγγειλεν ἀπαντᾶν. πυθόμενος δὲ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον εἰς Νίκαιαν καταπεπλευκέναι, τῶν δʼ Αἰτωλῶν τοὺς ἄρχοντας εἰς Ἡράκλειαν ἁθροίζεσθαι χάριν τοῦ κοινολογηθῆναι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐνεστώτων, ἀναλαβὼν τὴν δύναμιν ἐκ τῆς Σκοτούσης ὥρμησε σπεύδων καταταχῆσαι καὶ πτοήσας διασῦραι τὴν σύνοδον αὐτῶν. τοῦ μὲν οὖν συλλόγου καθυστέρει, τὸν δὲ σῖτον φθείρας καὶ παρελόμενος τῶν περὶ τὸν Αἰνιᾶνα κόλπον κατοικούντων ἐπανῆλθε. καὶ τὴν μὲν δύναμιν ἐν τῇ Σκοτούσῃ πάλιν ἀπέλειπε, μετὰ δὲ τῶν εὐζώνων καὶ τῆς βασιλικῆς ἴλης εἰς Δημητριάδα καταλύσας ἔμενε, καραδοκῶν τὰς τῶν ἐναντίων ἐπιβολάς. ἵνα δὲ μηδὲν αὐτὸν λανθάνῃ τῶν πραττομένων, διεπέμψατο πρὸς Πεπαρηθίους καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς Φωκίδος, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς Εὐβοίας, καὶ παρήγγειλε διασαφεῖν αὑτῷ πάντα τὰ γινόμενα διὰ τῶν πυρσῶν ἐπὶ τὸ Τίσαιον. τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶ τῆς Θετταλίας ὄρος, εὐφυῶς κείμενον πρὸς τὰς τῶν προειρημένων τόπων περιφάσεις. [¶4] 43. The method of signalling by fire, which is of the highest utility in the operations of war, has never before been clearly expounded; and I think I shall be doing a service if I do not pass it over, but give an account of it adequate to its importance. Now that opportuneness is of the utmost moment in all undertakings, and pre-eminently so in those of war, no one doubts; and of all the things which contribute to enable us to hit the proper time nothing is more efficacious than fire signals. For they convey intelligence sometimes of what has just happened, sometimes of what is actually going on; and by paying proper attention to them one can get this information at three or four days’ journey off, and even more: so that it continually happens that the help required may be unexpectedly given, thanks to a message conveyed by fire signals. Now, formerly, as the art of signalling by fire was confined to a single method, it proved in very many cases unserviceable to those employing it. For as it was necessary to employ certain definite signals which had been agreed upon, and as possible occurrences are unlimited, the greater number of them were beyond the competence of the fire signals to convey. To take the present instance: it was possible by means of the signals agreed upon to send the information that a fleet had arrived at Oreus or Peparethos or Chalcis; but it was impossible to express that “certain citizens had gone over to the enemy,” or “were betraying the town,” or that “a massacre had taken place,” or any of those things which often occur, but which cannot be all anticipated. Yet it is precisely the unexpected occurrences which demand instant consideration and succour. All such things then were naturally beyond the competence of fire signalling, inasmuch as it was impossible to adopt an arbitrary sign for things which it was impossible to anticipate. > Greek: 43. τοῦ δὲ κατὰ τὰς πυρσείας γένους, μεγίστας δὴ παρεχομένου χρείας ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς, ἀνεργάστου πρότερον ὑπάρχοντος, χρήσιμον εἶναί μοι δοκεῖ τὸ μὴ παραδραμεῖν, ἀλλὰ ποιήσασθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁρμόζουσαν μνήμην. ὅτι μὲν οὖν ὁ καιρὸς ἐν πᾶσι μεγάλην ἔχει μερίδα πρὸς τὰς ἐπιβολάς, μεγίστην δʼ ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς, παντὶ δῆλον· τῶν δὲ πρὸς τοῦτο συναγωνισμάτων πλείστην ἔχουσι δύναμιν οἱ πυρσοί. ἄρτι γὰρ τὰ μὲν γέγονε, τινὰ δʼ ἀκμὴν ἐνεργεῖται καὶ δυνατόν ἐστι γινώσκειν, ᾧ μέλει, ποτὲ μὲν ἡμερῶν τριῶν ἢ τεττάρων ὁδὸν ἀπέχοντι, ποτὲ δὲ καὶ πλειόνων. ὥστʼ ἀεὶ τοῖς δεομένοις πράγμασιν ἐπικουρίας παράδοξον γίνεσθαι τὴν βοήθειαν διὰ τῆς τῶν πυρσῶν ἀπαγγελίας. τὸν μὲν οὖν πρὸ τούτου χρόνον ἁπλῆς γινομένης τῆς πυρσείας κατὰ τὸ πλεῖστον αὐτὴν ἀνωφελῆ συνέβαινε γίνεσθαι τοῖς χρωμένοις. διὰ γὰρ συνθημάτων ὡρισμένων ἔδει τὴν χρείαν συντελεῖν· τῶν δὲ πραγμάτων ἀορίστων ὑπαρχόντων τὰ πλεῖστα διέφυγε τὴν τῶν πυρσῶν χρείαν, οἷον ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τῶν νῦν εἰρημένων. ὅτι μὲν οὖν εἰς Ὠρεὸν καὶ Πεπάρηθον ἢ Χαλκίδα πάρεστι στόλος, δυνατὸν ἦν διασαφεῖν τοῖς περὶ τούτου συνθεμένοις· ὅτι δὲ μεταβάλλονταί τινες τῶν πολιτῶν ἢ προδιδόασιν, ἢ φόνος ἐν τῇ πόλει γέγονεν, ἤ τι τῶν τοιούτων, ἃ δὴ συμβαίνει μὲν πολλάκις, πρόληψιν δʼ ἔχειν πάντων ἀδύνατον — μάλιστα δὲ τὰ παραδόξως γινόμενα τῆς ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ συμβουλίας καὶ ἐπικουρίας προσδεῖται — τὰ τοιαῦτα πάντα διέφυγε τὴν τῶν πυρσῶν χρείαν. περὶ ὧν γὰρ οὐκ ἐνεδέχετο προνοηθῆναι, περὶ τούτων οὐδὲ σύνθημα ποιήσασθαι δυνατόν. [¶5] 44. Aeneas, therefore, the writer of the treatise on tactics, wished to correct this defect, and did in fact make some improvement; but his invention still fell very far short of what was wanted, as the following passage from his treatise will show. “Let those who wish,” he says, “to communicate any matter of pressing importance to each other by fire-signals prepare two earthenware vessels of exactly equal size both as to diameter and depth. Let the depth be three cubits, the diameter one. Then prepare corks of a little shorter diameter than that of the vessels: and in the middle of these corks fix rods divided into equal portions of three fingers’ breadth, and let each of these portions be marked with a clearly distinguishable line: and in each let there be written one of the most obvious and universal of those events which occur in war; for instance in the first ‘cavalry have entered the country,’ in the second ‘hoplites,’ in the third ‘light-armed,’ in the next ‘infantry and cavalry,’ in another ‘ships,’ in another ‘corn,’ and so on, until all the portions have written on them the events which may reasonably be expected to occur in the particular war. Then carefully pierce both the vessels in such a way that the taps shall be exactly equal and carry off the same amount of water. Fill the vessels with water and lay the corks with their rods upon its surface, and set both taps running together. This being done, it is evident that if there is perfect equality in every respect between them, both corks will sink exactly in proportion as the water runs away, and both rods will disappear to the same extent into the vessels. When they have been tested, and the rate of the discharge of water has been found to be exactly equal in both, then the vessels should be taken respectively to the two places from which the two parties intend to watch for fire signals. As soon as any one of those eventualities which are inscribed upon the rods takes place, raise a lighted torch, and wait until the signal is answered by a torch from the others: this being raised, both parties are to set the taps running together. When the cork and rod on the signalling side has sunk low enough to bring the ring containing the words which give the desired information on a level with the rim of the vessel, a torch is to be raised again. Those on the receiving side are then at once to stop the tap, and to look at the words in the ring of the rod which is on a level with the rim of their vessel. This will be the same as that on the signalling side, assuming everything to be done at the same speed on both sides.” > Greek: 44. Αἰνείας δὲ βουληθεὶς διορθώσασθαι τὴν τοιαύτην ἀπορίαν, ὁ τὰ περὶ τῶν Στρατηγικῶν ὑπομνήματα συντεταγμένος, βραχὺ μέν τι προεβίβασε, τοῦ γε μὴν δέοντος ἀκμὴν πάμπολυ τὸ κατὰ τὴν ἐπίνοιαν ἀπελείφθη. γνοίη δʼ ἄν τις ἐκ τούτων. φησὶ γὰρ δεῖν τοὺς μέλλοντας ἀλλήλοις διὰ τῶν πυρσῶν δηλοῦν τὸ κατεπεῖγον ἀγγεῖα κατασκευάσαι κεραμεᾶ, κατά τε τὸ πλάτος καὶ κατὰ τὸ βάθος ἰσομεγέθη πρὸς ἀκρίβειαν· εἶναι δὲ μάλιστα τὸ μὲν βάθος τριῶν πηχῶν, τὸ δὲ πλάτος πήχεος. εἶτα παρασκευάσαι φελλοὺς βραχὺ κατὰ πλάτος ἐνδεεῖς τῶν στομάτων, ἐν δὲ τούτοις μέσοις ἐμπεπηγέναι βακτηρίας διῃρημένας εἰς ἴσα μέρη τριδάκτυλα, καθʼ ἕκαστον δὲ μέρος εἶναι περιγραφὴν εὔσημον. ἐν ἑκάστῳ δὲ μέρει γεγράφθαι τὰ προφανέστατα καὶ καθολικώτατα τῶν ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς συμβαινόντων, οἷον εὐθέως ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ, διότι " πάρεισιν ἱππεῖς εἰς τὴν χώραν," ἐν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ διότι "πεζοὶ βαρεῖς," ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳ "ψιλοί," τούτων δʼ ἑξῆς " πεζοὶ μεθʼ ἱππέων," εἶτα "πλοῖα," μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα "σῖτος," καὶ κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς οὕτω, μέχρις ἂν ἐν πάσαις γραφῇ ταῖς χώραις τὰ μάλιστʼ ἂν ἐκ τῶν εὐλόγων προνοίας τυγχάνοντα καὶ συμβαίνοντα κατὰ τοὺς ἐνεστῶτας καιροὺς ἐκ τῶν πολεμικῶν. τούτων δὲ γενομένων ἀμφότερα κελεύει τρῆσαι τὰ ἀγγεῖα πρὸς ἀκρίβειαν, ὥστε τοὺς αὐλίσκους ἴσους εἶναι καὶ κατʼ ἴσον ἀπορρεῖν· εἶτα πληρώσαντας ὕδατος ἐπιθεῖναι τοὺς φελλοὺς ἔχοντας τὰς βακτηρίας, κἄπειτα τοὺς αὐλίσκους ἀφεῖναι ῥεῖν ἅμα. τούτου δὲ συμβαίνοντος δῆλον ὡς ἀνάγκη πάντων ἴσων καὶ ὁμοίων ὄντων, καθʼ ὅσον ἂν ἀπορρέῃ τὸ ὑγρόν, κατὰ τοσοῦτον τοὺς φελλοὺς καταβαίνειν καὶ τὰς βακτηρίας κρύπτεσθαι κατὰ τῶν ἀγγείων. ὅταν δὲ τὰ προειρημένα γένηται κατὰ τὸν χειρισμὸν ἰσοταχῆ καὶ σύμφωνα, τότε κομίσαντας ἐπὶ τοὺς τόπους, ἐν οἷς ἑκάτεροι μέλλουσι συντηρεῖν τὰς πυρσείας, ἑκάτερον θεῖναι τῶν ἀγγείων. εἶτʼ ἐπὰν ἐμπέσῃ τι τῶν ἐν τῇ βακτηρίᾳ γεγραμμένων, πυρσὸν ἆραι κελεύει, καὶ μένειν, ἕως ἂν ἀνταίρωσιν οἱ συντεταγμένοι· γενομένων δὲ φανερῶν ἀμφοτέρων ἅμα τῶν πυρσῶν καθελεῖν. εἶτʼ εὐθέως ἀφεῖναι τοὺς αὐλίσκους ῥεῖν. ὅταν δὲ καταβαίνοντος τοῦ φελλοῦ καὶ τῆς βακτηρίας ἔλθῃ τῶν γεγραμμένων ὃ βούλει δηλοῦν κατὰ τὸ χεῖλος τοῦ τεύχους, ἆραι κελεύει τὸν πυρσόν· τοὺς δʼ ἑτέρους ἐπιλαβεῖν εὐθέως τὸν αὐλίσκον, καὶ σκοπεῖν τί κατὰ τὸ χεῖλός ἐστι τῶν ἐν τῇ βακτηρίᾳ γεγραμμένων· ἔσται δὲ τοῦτο τὸ δηλούμενον πάντων ἰσοταχῶς παρʼ ἀμφοτέροις κινουμένων. [¶6] 45. Now this method, though introducing a certain improvement in the system of fire signalling, is still wanting in definiteness: for it is evident that it is neither possible to anticipate, or, if you could anticipate, to write upon the rod every possible thing that may happen: and therefore, when anything unexpected in the chapter of accidents does occur, it is plainly impossible to communicate it by this method. Besides, even such statements as are written on the rods are quite indefinite; for the number of cavalry or infantry that have come, or the particular point in the territory which they have entered, the number of ships, or the amount of corn, cannot be expressed. For what cannot be known before it happens cannot have an arrangement made for expressing it. And this is the important point. For how is one to take proper measures for relief without knowing the number or direction of the enemy? Or how can the party to be relieved feel confidence or the reverse, or indeed have any conception at all of the situation, if it does not know how many ships or how much corn have been despatched by the allies? But the last method which was hit upon by Cleoxenus and Democlitus, and further elaborated by myself, is above all things definite, and made capable of indicating clearly whatever is needed at the moment; but in its working it requires attention and more than ordinarily close observation. It is as follows: Divide the alphabet into five groups of five letters each (of course the last group will be one letter short, but this will not interfere with the working of the system). The parties about to signal to each other must then prepare five tablets each, on which the several groups of letters must be written. They must then agree that the party signalling shall first raise two torches, and wait until the other raises two also. The object of this is to let each other know that they are attending. These torches having been lowered, the signalling party raises first torches on the left to indicate which of the tablets he means: for instance, one if he means the first, two if he means the second, and so on. He next raises torches on the right showing in a similar manner by their number which of the letters in the tablet he wishes to indicate to the recipient. > Greek: 45. ταῦτα δὲ βραχὺ μέν τι τῆς διὰ τῶν συνθημάτων πυρσείας ἐξήλλαχεν, ἀκμὴν δʼ ἐστὶν ἀόριστα. δῆλον γὰρ [ἔσται] ὡς οὔτε προϊδέσθαι τὰ μέλλοντα πάντα δυνατὸν οὔτε προϊδόμενον εἰς τὴν βακτηρίαν γράψαι· λοιπὸν ὁπόταν ἐκ τῶν καιρῶν ἀνυπονόητά τινα συμβαίνῃ, φανερὸν ὡς οὐ δύναται δηλοῦσθαι κατὰ ταύτην τὴν ἐπίνοιαν. καὶ μὴν οὐδʼ αὐτῶν τῶν ἐν τῇ βακτηρίᾳ γεγραμμένων οὐδέν ἐστιν ὡρισμένον. πόσοι γὰρ ἥκουσιν ἱππεῖς ἢ πόσοι πεζοὶ καὶ ποῦ τῆς χώρας καὶ πόσαι νῆες καὶ πόσος σῖτος, οὐχ οἷόν τε διασαφῆσαι· περὶ γὰρ ὧν ἀδύνατον γνῶναι πρὶν ἢ γενέσθαι, περὶ τούτων οὐδὲ συνθέσθαι πρὸ τοῦ δυνατόν. τὸ δὲ συνέχον ἐστὶ τοῦτο· πῶς γὰρ ἄν τις βουλεύσαιτο περὶ τοῦ βοηθεῖν μὴ γινώσκων πόσοι πάρεισι τῶν πολεμίων ἢ ποῦ; πῶς δὲ θαρρήσαι πάλιν ἢ τοὐναντίον ἢ καθόλου διανοηθείη τι μὴ συνεὶς πόσαι νῆες ἢ πόσος σῖτος ἥκει παρὰ τῶν συμμάχων; ὁ δὲ τελευταῖος τρόπος, ἐπινοηθεὶς διὰ Κλεοξένου καὶ Δημοκλείτου, τυχὼν δὲ τῆς ἐξεργασίας διʼ ἡμῶν, πάντη πάντως μέν ἐστιν ὡρισμένος καὶ πᾶν τὸ κατεπεῖγον δυνάμενος ἀκριβῶς διασαφεῖν, κατὰ δὲ τὸν χειρισμὸν ἐπιμελείας δεῖ καὶ παρατηρήσεως ἀκριβεστέρας. ἔστι δὲ τοιοῦτος. τὸ τῶν στοιχείων πλῆθος ἑξῆς δεῖ λαμβάνοντας διελεῖν εἰς πέντε μέρη κατὰ πέντε γράμματα. λείψει δὲ τὸ τελευταῖον ἑνὶ στοιχείῳ· τοῦτο δʼ οὐ βλάπτει πρὸς τὴν χρείαν. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πλατεῖα παρεσκευάσθαι πέντε τοὺς μέλλοντας ἀποδιδόναι τὴν πυρσείαν ἀλλήλοις ἑκατέρους καὶ γράψαι τῶν μερῶν ἑξῆς εἰς ἕκαστον πλατεῖον, κἄπειτα συνθέσθαι πρὸς αὑτοὺς διότι τοὺς μὲν πρώτους ἀρεῖ πυρσοὺς ὁ μέλλων σημαίνειν ἅμα καὶ δύο καὶ μενεῖ μέχρις ἂν ὁ ἕτερος ἀνταίρῃ. τοῦτο δʼ ἔσται χάριν τοῦ διὰ ταύτης τῆς πυρσείας ἑαυτοῖς ἀνθομολογήσασθαι διότι προσέχουσι. καθαιρεθέντων δὲ τούτων λοιπὸν ὁ σημαίνων ἀρεῖ μὲν τοὺς πρώτους ἐκ τῶν εὐωνύμων, διασαφῶν τὸ πλατεῖον ποῖον δεήσει σκοπεῖν, οἷον ἐὰν μὲν τὸ πρῶτον, ἕνʼ, ἂν δὲ τὸ δεύτερον, δύο, καὶ κατὰ λόγον οὕτω· τοὺς δὲ δευτέρους ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον, ποῖον δεήσει γράμμα τῶν ἐκ τοῦ πλατείου γράφειν αὖ τὸν ἀποδεχόμενον τὴν πυρσείαν. [¶7] 46. This matter being agreed upon, the two parties must go to their respective points of observation; and each must have, to begin with, a stenoscope with two funnels, to enable him to distinguish through one the right, through the other the left position of the signaller opposite him. Near this stenoscope the tablets must be fixed, and both points, to the right and to the left, must be defended by a fence ten feet long and about the height of a man, in order to make it clear on which side the torches are raised, and to hide them entirely when they are lowered. These preparations completed on both sides, when a man wishes, for instance, to send the message “Some of our soldiers to the number of a hundred have deserted to the enemy,”—the first thing to do is to select words that may give the same information with the fewest letters, for instance, “A hundred Cretans have deserted,” for thus the number of letters is diminished by more than a half and the same information is given. This sentence having been written on a tablet will be transmitted by five signals thus: The first letter is κ, this comes in the second group of letters and therefore on the second tablet; the signaller therefore must raise two torches on the left to show the recipient that he must look at the second tablet; then he will raise five on the right, because κ is the fifth letter in the group, which the recipient must thereupon write on his tablet. Then the signaller must raise four torches on the left, for ρ is in that group, and two on the right, because it is the second in the fourth group, and the recipient will write ρ on his tablet: and so on for the other letters. > Greek: 46. ὅταν δὲ ταῦτα συνθέμενοι χωρισθῶσιν, ἑκάτερον ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου δεήσει πρῶτον μὲν διόπτραν ἔχειν δύʼ αὐλίσκους ἔχουσαν, ὥστε τοῦ μέλλοντος ἀντιπυρσεύειν τῷ μὲν τὸν δεξιὸν τόπον, τῷ δὲ τὸν εὐώνυμον δύνασθαι θεωρεῖν. παρὰ δὲ τὴν διόπτραν ἑξῆς ὀρθὰ δεῖ τὰ πλατεῖα πεπηγέναι, παραπεφράχθαι δὲ καὶ τὸν δεξιὸν καὶ τὸν εὐώνυμον τόπον ἐπὶ δέκα πόδας, τὸ δὲ βάθος ὡς ἀνδρόμηκες, εἰς τὸ τοὺς πυρσοὺς αἰρομένους μὲν παρὰ ταῦτα τὴν φάσιν ἀκριβῆ ποιεῖν, καθαιρουμένους δὲ τὴν κρύψιν. τούτων δʼ ἑτοιμασθέντων παρʼ ἀμφοτέροις, ὅταν βούλῃ δηλῶσαι λόγου χάριν διότι "τῶν στρατιωτῶν τινες εἰς ἑκατὸν ἀποκεχωρήκασι πρὸς τοὺς ὑπεναντίους," πρῶτον δεῖ διαλέξαι τῶν λέξεων, ὅσαι διʼ ἐλαχίστων γραμμάτων δύνανται ταὐτὸ δηλοῦν, οἷον ἀντὶ τοῦ προειρημένου "Κρῆτες ἑκατὸν ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ηὐτομόλησαν." νῦν γὰρ τὰ μὲν γράμματʼ ἐστὶν ἐλάττω τῶν ἡμίσεων, διασαφεῖται δὲ ταὐτόν. τούτου δὲ γραφέντος εἰς πινάκιον, οὕτω δηλωθήσεται τοῖς πυρσοῖς. πρῶτον δʼ ἐστὶ γράμμα τὸ κάππα· τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ μερίδι καὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ πλατείῳ. δεήσει δὲ καὶ πυρσοὺς ἐκ τῶν εὐωνύμων δύʼ αἴρειν, ὥστε τὸν ἀποδεχόμενον γινώσκειν ὅτι δεῖ τὸ δεύτερον πλατεῖον ἐπισκοπεῖν. εἶτʼ ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν ἀρεῖ πέντε, διασαφῶν ὅτι κάππα· τοῦτο γὰρ πέμπτον ἐστὶ τῆς δευτέρας μερίδος, ὃ δεήσει γράφειν εἰς τὸ πινάκιον τὸν ἀποδεχόμενον τοὺς πυρσούς. εἶτα τέτταρας ἐκ τῶν εὐωνύμων, ἐπεὶ τὸ ῥῶ τῆς τετάρτης ἐστὶ μερίδος. εἶτα δύο πάλιν ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν· δεύτερον γάρ ἐστι τῆς τετάρτης. ἐξ οὗ τὸ ῥῶ γράφει [ὁ δεχόμενος τοὺς πυρσούς]· καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον. προδηλοῦται μὲν οὖν πᾶν τὸ προσπῖπτον ὡρισμένως κατὰ ταύτην τὴν ἐπίνοιαν, πολλοὶ δὲ γίνονθʼ οἱ πυρσοὶ διὰ τὸ δεῖν ὑπὲρ ἑκάστου γράμματος διττὰς ποιεῖσθαι τὰς πυρσείας. [¶8] 47. Now everything that happens can be definitely imparted by means of this invention; but the number of torches employed is large, because each letter has to be indicated by two series of them: still, if proper preparations are made, the thing can be adequately carried out. But whichever method is employed, those who use it must practise beforehand, in order that when the actual occasion for putting it in use arises they may be able to give each other the information without any hitch. For there are plenty of instances to show what a wide difference there is between the way an operation is carried out by men who hear of it for the first time, and by men who have become habituated to it. Many things which were considered not only difficult, but impossible at first, are, after an interval of time and practice, performed with the greatest ease. I could give many illustrations of the truth of this remark, but the clearest may be found in the art of reading. Put side by side a man who has never learnt his letters, though otherwise acute, and a child who has acquired the habit, and give the latter a book, and bid him read it: the former will clearly not be induced to believe that the reader has first to attend to the look of each of the letters, secondly to their sound-value, and thirdly to their combinations with others, each of which operation requires a certain time. Therefore when he sees the boy, without a pause for thought, reading off seven or five lines at a breath, he will not easily be induced to believe that he has not read the book before; and certainly not, if he is able also to observe the appropriate enunciation, the proper separations of the words, and the correct use of the rough and smooth breathings. The moral is, not to give up any useful accomplishment on account of its apparent difficulties, but to persevere till it becomes a matter of habit, which is the way mankind have obtained all good things. And especially is this right when the matters in question are such as are often of decisive importance to our safety. I was led to say this much in connexion with my former assertion that “all the arts had made such progress in our age that most of them were reduced in a manner to exact sciences.” And therefore this too is a point in which history properly written is of the highest utility.... > Greek: 47. οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἐάν τις εὐτρεπῆ ποιήσῃ τὰ πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα, δύναται γίνεσθαι τὸ δέον. καθʼ ἑκατέραν δὲ τὴν ἐπίνοιαν προμελετᾶν δεῖ τοὺς χειρίζοντας, ἵνα τῆς χρείας γινομένης ἀδιαπτώτως δύνωνται διασαφεῖν ἀλλήλοις. πηλίκην δὲ συμβαίνει φαίνεσθαι τὴν διαφορὰν ἐπὶ τῶν αὐτῶν πραγμάτων πρῶτον λεγομένων καὶ πάλιν κατὰ συνήθειαν γινομένων, ἐκ πολλῶν εὐχερὲς τῷ βουλομένῳ καταμαθεῖν. πολλὰ γὰρ οὐ μόνον τῶν δυσχερῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων εἶναι δοκούντων κατὰ τὰς ἀρχάς, μετὰ ταῦτα χρόνου καὶ συνηθείας τυχόντα ῥᾷστα πάντων ἐπιτελεῖται. τοῦ δὲ τοιούτου λόγου παραδείγματα μὲν πολλὰ καὶ ἕτερα πρὸς πίστιν, ἐναργέστατον δὲ τὸ γινόμενον ἐπὶ τῆς ἀναγνώσεως. ἐπὶ γὰρ ἐκείνης, εἴ τις παραστησάμενος ἄνθρωπον ἄπειρον μὲν καὶ ἀσυνήθη γραμματικῆς, τἄλλα δʼ ἀγχίνουν, κἄπειτα παιδάριον ἕξιν ἔχον παραστήσας καὶ δοὺς βυβλίον κελεύοι λέγειν τὰ γεγραμμένα, δῆλον ὡς οὐκ ἂν δύναιτο πιστεῦσαι διότι δεῖ πρῶτον ἐπὶ τὰς ὄψεις τὰς ἑνὸς ἑκάστου τῶν γραμμάτων ἐπιστῆσαι τὸν ἀναγινώσκοντα, δεύτερον ἐπὶ τὰς δυνάμεις, τρίτον ἐπὶ τὰς πρὸς ἄλληλα συμπλοκάς, ὧν ἕκαστον ποσοῦ χρόνου τινὸς δεῖται. διόπερ ὅταν ἀνεπιστάτως θεωρῇ τὸ παιδάριον ὑπὸ τὴν ἀναπνοὴν ἑπτὰ καὶ πέντε στίχους συνεῖρον, οὐκ ἂν εὐχερῶς δύναιτο πιστεῦσαι διότι πρότερον οὗτος οὐκ ἀνέγνωκε τὸ βυβλίον· εἰ δὲ καὶ τὴν ὑπόκρισιν καὶ τὰς διαιρέσεις, ἔτι δὲ δασύτητας καὶ ψιλότητας δύναιτο συσσῴζειν, οὐδὲ τελέως. διόπερ οὐκ ἀποστατέον οὐδενὸς τῶν χρησίμων διὰ τὰς προφαινομένας δυσχερείας, προσακτέον δὲ τὴν ἕξιν, ᾗ πάντα τὰ καλὰ γίνεται θηρατὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, ἄλλως τε καὶ περὶ τῶν τοιούτων, ἐν οἷς πολλάκις κεῖται τὸ συνέχον τῆς σωτηρίας. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐπαγγελίαν προήχθημεν εἰπεῖν. ἔφαμεν γὰρ πάντα τὰ θεωρήματα καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον εἰληφέναι τὰς προκοπάς, ὥστε τῶν πλείστων τρόπον τινὰ μεθοδικὰς εἶναι τὰς ἐπιστήμας. διὸ καὶ τοῦτο γίνεται τῆς δεόντως ἱστορίας συντεταγμένης ὠφελιμώτατον. [¶9] 48. The Apasiacae live between the rivers Oxus and Tanais, the former of which falls into the Hyrcanian Sea, the latter into the Palus Maeotis. Both are large enough to be navigable; and it seems surprising how the Nomads managed to come by land into Hyrcania along with their horses. Two accounts are given of this affair, one of them probable, the other very surprising yet not impossible. The Oxus rises in the Caucasus, and being much augmented by tributaries in Bactria, it rushes through the level plain with a violent and turbid stream. When it reaches the desert it dashes its stream against some precipitous rocks with a force raised to such tremendous proportions by the mass of its waters, and the declivity down which it has descended, that it leaps from the rocks to the plain below leaving an interval of more than a stade between the rock and its falls. It is through this space that they say the Apasiacae went on foot with their horses into Hyrcania, under the fall, and keeping close to the rock. The other account is more probable on the face of it. It is said that, as the basin of the river has extensive flats into which it descends with violence, the force of the stream makes hollows in them, and opens chasms into which the water descends deep below the surface, and so is carried on for a short way, and then reappears: and that the barbarians, being well acquainted with the facts, make their way on horseback, over the space thus left dry, into Hyrcania.... > Greek: 48. οἱ δʼ Ἀπασιάκαι κατοικοῦσι μὲν ἀνὰ μέσον Ὄξου καὶ Τανάιδος, ὧν ὁ μὲν εἰς τὴν Ὑρκανίαν ἐμβάλλει θάλατταν, ὁ δὲ Τάναϊς ἐξίησιν εἰς τὴν Μαιῶτιν λίμνην· εἰσὶ δʼ ἑκάτεροι κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος πλωτοί. καὶ δοκεῖ θαυμαστὸν εἶναι πῶς οἱ Νομάδες περαιούμενοι τὸν Ὄξον εἰς τὴν Ὑρκανίαν ἔρχονται πεζῇ μετὰ τῶν ἵππων. εἰσὶ δὲ δύο λόγοι περὶ τούτου τοῦ πράγματος, ὁ μὲν ἐπιεικής, ὁ δʼ ἕτερος παράδοξος, οὐ μὴν ἀδύνατος. ὁ γὰρ Ὄξος ἔχει μὲν ἐκ τοῦ Καυκάσου τὰς πηγάς, ἐπὶ πολὺ δʼ αὐξηθεὶς ἐν τῇ Βακτριανῇ, συρρεόντων εἰς αὐτὸν ὑδάτων, φέρεται διὰ πεδιάδος χώρας πολλῷ καὶ θολερῷ ῥεύματι. παραγενόμενος δʼ εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἐπί τινας πέτρας ἀπορρῶγας ἐξωθεῖ τὸ ῥεῦμα τῇ βίᾳ διὰ τὸ πλῆθος καὶ τὴν καταφορὰν τῶν ὑπερκειμένων τόπων ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὥστε τῆς πέτρας ἐν τοῖς κάτω μέρεσι πλεῖον ἢ στάδιον ἀφάλλεσθαι τὴν καταφορὰν αὐτοῦ. διὰ δὴ τούτου τοῦ τόπου φασὶ τοὺς Ἀπασιάκας παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν πέτραν ὑπὸ τὴν καταφορὰν τοῦ ποταμοῦ πεζεύειν μετὰ τῶν ἵππων εἰς τὴν Ὑρκανίαν. ὁ δʼ ἕτερος λόγος ἐπιεικεστέραν ἔχει τοῦ πρόσθεν τὴν ἀπόφασιν. τοῦ γὰρ ὑποκειμένου τόπου μεγάλους ἔχοντος πλαταμῶνας, εἰς οὓς καταρράττει, τούτους φασὶ τῇ βίᾳ τοῦ ῥεύματος ἐκκοιλαίνοντα καὶ διαρρηγνύντα κατὰ βάθος ὑπὸ γῆν φέρεσθαι τόπον οὐ πολύν, εἶτʼ ἀναφαίνεσθαι πάλιν. τοὺς δὲ βαρβάρους διὰ τὴν ἐμπειρίαν κατὰ τὸν διαλείποντα τόπον ποιεῖσθαι τὴν δίοδον ἐπὶ τῶν ἵππων εἰς τὴν Ὑρκανίαν. — γενομένης δὲ τῆς προσαγγελίας διότι συμβαίνει τὸν μὲν Εὐθύδημον μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἶναι περὶ Ταπουρίαν, μυρίους δʼ ἱππεῖς προκαθίζεσθαι φυλάττοντας τὰς περὶ τὸν Ἄριον ποταμὸν διαβάσεις, ἔκρινε τὴν πολιορκίαν ἀπογνοὺς ἔχεσθαι τῶν προκειμένων. [¶10] 49. News being brought that Euthydemus with his force was at Tapuria, and that a body of ten thousand horsemen were keeping guard at the passage of the river Arius, he decided to abandon the siege and attack these last. The river was three days’ march away. For two days therefore he marched at a moderate speed; but on the third, after dinner, he gave orders for the rest of his army to start next day at daybreak; while he himself, with the cavalry and light-armed troops and ten thousand peltasts, started in the night and pushed on at a great rate. For he was informed that the cavalry of the enemy kept guard by day on the bank of the river, but at night retired to a city more than twenty stades off. Having completed therefore the rest of the way under cover of night, the plains being excellent for riding, he got the greater part of his army across the river by daybreak, before the enemy came back. When their scouts told them what had happened, the horsemen of the Bactrians hastened to the rescue, and fell in with their opponents while on the march. Seeing that he must stand the first charge of the enemy, the king summoned the two thousand horsemen who were accustomed to fight round his own person; and issuing orders that the rest were to form their companies and squadrons, and take up their usual order on the ground on which they already were, he advanced with the two thousand cavalry, and met the charge of the advanced guard of the Bactrians. In this engagement Antiochus is reputed to have shown the greatest gallantry of any of his men. There was heavy loss on both sides: the king’s men conquered the first squadron, but when a second and a third charged, they began to be hard pressed and to suffer seriously. At that juncture, most of the cavalry being by this time on the ground, Panaetolus ordered a general advance; relieved the king and his squadrons; and, upon the Bactrians charging in loose order, forced them to turn and fly in confusion. They never drew rein before the charge of Panaetolus, until they rejoined Euthydemus, with a loss of more than half their number. The king’s cavalry on the contrary retired, after killing large numbers and taking a great many prisoners, and bivouacked by the side of the river. In this action the king had a horse killed under him, and lost some of his teeth by a blow on the mouth; and his whole bearing obtained him a reputation for bravery of the highest description. After this battle Euthydemus retreated in dismay with his army to the city of Zariaspa in Bactria.... > Greek: 49. ἀπέχοντος δὲ τοῦ ποταμοῦ τριῶν ἡμερῶν ὁδόν, ἐπὶ μὲν ἡμέρας δύο σύμμετρον ἐποιήσατο τὴν πορείαν, τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅμα τῷ φωτὶ ποιεῖσθαι παρήγγειλε τὴν ἀναζυγήν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀναλαβὼν τοὺς ἱππέας καὶ τοὺς εὐζώνους, ἅμα δὲ πελταστὰς μυρίους, προῆγε νυκτός, πορείᾳ χρώμενος ἐνεργῷ. τοὺς γὰρ ἱππεῖς ἐπυνθάνετο τῶν ὑπεναντίων τὰς μὲν ἡμέρας ἐφεδρεύειν παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τοῦ ποταμοῦ, τὰς δὲ νύκτας ὑποχωρεῖν πρός τινα πόλιν οὐκ ἔλαττον εἴκοσι σταδίων διέχουσαν. διανύσας δὲ νύκτωρ τὴν καταλειπομένην ὁδόν, ἅτε τῶν πεδίων ἱππασίμων ὑπαρχόντων, ἔφθασε περαιώσας τὸν ποταμὸν ἅμα τῷ φωτὶ τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος τῆς μεθʼ ἑαυτοῦ δυνάμεως. οἱ δὲ τῶν Βακτριανῶν ἱππεῖς, σημηνάντων αὐτοῖς τῶν σκοπῶν τὸ γεγονός, ἐξεβοήθουν, καὶ κατὰ πορείαν συνέμισγον τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις. ὁ δὲ βασιλεύς, θεωρῶν ὅτι δεῖ δέξασθαι τὴν πρώτην ἐπιφορὰν τῶν πολεμίων, παρακαλέσας τοὺς περὶ αὐτὸν εἰθισμένους κινδυνεύειν τῶν ἱππέων δισχιλίους, τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις παρήγγειλε κατὰ σημαίας καὶ κατʼ οὐλαμοὺς αὐτοῦ παρεμβαλεῖν καὶ λαμβάνειν ἑκάστους τὰς εἰθισμένας τάξεις, αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῶν προειρημένων ἱππέων ἀπαντήσας συνέβαλε τοῖς πρώτοις ἐπιφερομένοις τῶν Βάκτρων. δοκεῖ δὲ κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν κίνδυνον Ἀντίοχος ἀγωνίσασθαι διαπρεπέστατα τῶν μεθʼ αὑτοῦ. πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἀμφοτέρων διεφθάρησαν, ἐπεκράτησαν δὲ τῆς πρώτης ἱππαρχίας οἱ μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως· τῆς δὲ δευτέρας καὶ τρίτης ἐπιφερομένης ἐπιέζοντο καὶ κακῶς ἀπήλλαττον. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον, τῶν πλείστων ἱππέων ἐκτεταγμένων ἤδη, Παναίτωλος ἐπαγαγεῖν παραγγείλας τὸν μὲν βασιλέα καὶ τοὺς μετʼ αὐτοῦ κινδυνεύοντας ἐδέξατο, τοὺς δὲ τῶν Βακτριανῶν ἐπιφερομένους ἀτάκτως ἐκ μεταβολῆς προτροπάδην ἠνάγκασε φυγεῖν. ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν, τῶν περὶ τὸν Παναίτωλον αὐτοῖς ἐπικειμένων, οὐ πρότερον ἔστησαν ἕως οὗ συνέμιξαν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Εὐθύδημον, τοὺς πλείστους ἀπολωλεκότες αὑτῶν· οἱ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως ἱππεῖς, πολλοὺς μὲν φονεύσαντες, πολλοὺς δὲ ζωγρίᾳ λαβόντες, ἀνεχώρουν. καὶ τότε μὲν αὐτοῦ παρὰ τὸν ποταμὸν ηὐλίσθησαν· ἐν δὲ τούτῳ τῷ κινδύνῳ τὸν μὲν ἵππον συμβαίνει ἀποθανεῖν τραυματισθέντα, αὐτὸν δὲ πληγέντα διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἀποβαλεῖν τινας· τῶν ὀδόντων, καθόλου δὲ φήμην ἐπʼ ἀνδρείᾳ περιποιήσασθαι τότε μάλιστα. γενομένης δὲ τῆς μάχης ταύτης ὁ μὲν Εὐθύδημος καταπλαγεὶς ἀνεχώρησε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἰς πόλιν Ζαριάσπαν τῆς Βακτριανῆς. ἴσως δέ τινες ἐπιζητοῦσι πῶς ἡμεῖς οὐ προγραφὰς ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ βίβλῳ, καθάπερ οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ προεκθέσεις καθʼ ἑκάστην ὀλυμπιάδα πεποιήκαμεν τῶν πράξεων. ἐγὼ δὲ κρίνω χρήσιμον μὲν εἶναι καὶ τὸ τῶν προγραφῶν γένος· καὶ γὰρ εἰς ἐπίστασιν ἄγει τοὺς ἀναγινώσκειν θέλοντας καὶ συνεκκαλεῖται καὶ παρορμᾷ πρὸς τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις πᾶν τὸ ζητούμενον ἑτοίμως ἔνεστιν εὑρεῖν διὰ τούτου· θεωρῶν δὲ διὰ πολλὰς αἰτίας καὶ τὰς τυχούσας ὀλιγωρούμενον καὶ φθειρόμενον τὸ τῶν προγραφῶν γένος, οὕτως καὶ διὰ ταῦτα πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος κατηνέχθην· τῆς γὰρ προεκθέσεως οὐ μόνον ἰσοδυναμούσης πρὸς τὴν προγραφήν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλεῖόν τι δυναμένης, ἅμα δὲ καὶ χώραν ἐχούσης ἀσφαλεστέραν διὰ τὸ συμπεπλέχθαι τῇ πραγματείᾳ, τούτῳ μᾶλλον ἐδοκιμάσαμεν χρῆσθαι τῷ μέρει παρʼ ὅλην τὴν σύνταξιν πλὴν ἓξ τῶν πρώτων βυβλίων· ἐν ἐκείνοις δὲ προγραφὰς ἐποιησάμεθα διὰ τὸ μὴ λίαν ἐναρμόζειν ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ τῶν προεκθέσεων γένος.