Postwar Conflicts and the Mercenary War — Polybius, The Histories Book 1 (1.65.1–1.65.9), Greek & English

§1.65.1

μετὰ δὲ τὰς διαλύσεις ταύτας ἴδιόν τι καὶ παραπλήσιον ἀμφοτέροις συνέβη παθεῖν.

After these treaties, a peculiar and yet very similar experience befell both states.

§1.65.2

ἐξεδέξατο γὰρ πόλεμος ἐμφύλιος Ῥωμαίους¹ μὲν ὁ πρὸς τοὺς Φαλίσκους καλουμένους, ὃν ταχέως καὶ συμφερόντως ἐπετέλεσαν, ἐν ὀλίγαις ἡμέραις ἐγκρατεῖς γενόμενοι τῆς πόλεως αὐτῶν, Καρχηδονίους δὲ² κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν καιρὸν οὐ μικρὸς οὐδʼ εὐκαταφρόνητος ὁ πρὸς τοὺς ξένους καὶ τοὺς Νομάδας καὶ τοὺς ἅμα τούτοις ἀποστάντας Λίβυας, ἐν ᾧ πολλοὺς καὶ μεγάλους ὑπομείναντες φόβους τέλος οὐ μόνον ὑπὲρ τῆς χώρας ἐκινδύνευσαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τοῦ τῆς πατρίδος ἐδάφους.

For domestic war succeeded; for the Romans, the war against those called the Falisci, which they brought to a speedy and advantageous end, making themselves masters of their city in a few days; and for the Carthaginians, at the same time, a war by no means small or contemptible against the mercenaries, the Numidians, and the Libyans who revolted along with them, in which, after enduring many great terrors, they at last ran risks not only for their territory, but even for themselves and the very soil of their fatherland.

§1.65.5

ἐπὶ δὲ τὸν πόλεμον τοῦτον ἐπιστῆσαι μὲν ἄξιον διὰ πλείους αἰτίας, ἐπὶ κεφαλαίου δὲ καὶ διὰ βραχέων αὐτοῦ ποιήσασθαι τὴν ἐξήγησιν κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς πρόθεσιν.

To this war it is well worth paying attention for many reasons, and to make our exposition of it summary and brief, in accordance with our original plan.

§1.65.6

τόν τε γὰρ παρὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς λεγόμενον ἄσπονδον πόλεμον, τίνα φύσιν ἔχει καὶ διάθεσιν, μάλιστʼ ἄν τις ἐκ τῶν τότε γεγονότων ἐπιγνοίη, τούς τε χρωμένους μισθοφορικαῖς δυνάμεσι τίνα δεῖ προορᾶσθαι καὶ φυλάττεσθαι μακρόθεν, ἐναργέστατʼ ἂν ἐκ τῆς τότε περιστάσεως συνθεωρήσειεν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τί διαφέρει καὶ κατὰ πόσον ἤθη σύμμικτα καὶ βάρβαρα τῶν ἐν παιδείαις καὶ νόμοις καὶ πολιτικοῖς ἔθεσιν ἐκτεθραμμένων·³

For one would best understand from the events of that time the nature and character of what is commonly called the “implacable war”; and one would see most clearly from that crisis what those who employ mercenary forces must foresee and guard against from afar, and besides, in what and to what extent mixed and barbarian characters differ from those who have been nurtured in education, laws, and civic habits.

§1.65.8

τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, τὰς αἰτίας ἐκ τῶν ἐν ἐκείνοις τοῖς καιροῖς πεπραγμένων κατανοήσειεν, διʼ ἃς ὁ κατʼ Ἀννίβαν συνέστη Ῥωμαίοις καὶ Καρχηδονίοις πόλεμος.

But most of all, one would understand from what was done in those times the causes from which the war under Hannibal arose between the Romans and the Carthaginians.

§1.65.9

ὑπὲρ οὗ διὰ τὸ μὴ μόνον παρὰ τοῖς συγγραφεῦσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρὰ τοῖς πεπολεμηκόσιν ἔτι νῦν ἀμφισβητεῖσθαι τὰς αἰτίας, χρήσιμόν ἐστι τὴν ἀληθινωτάτην παραστῆσαι διάληψιν τοῖς φιλομαθοῦσιν.

As to this war, since its causes are still disputed not only among historians but also among those who fought in it, it is useful to present the truest view to those who are eager to learn.

Syntax notes3 items

1.65.2ἐξεδέξατο ... Ῥωμαίους
The verb ἐκδέχομαι is used transitively here in the sense of "to succeed" or "to follow closely upon," taking the accusative Ῥωμαίους μὲν (and Καρχηδονίους δὲ in section 3) as its object. The subject is the postposed πόλεμος ἐμφύλιος ... ὁ πρὸς τοὺς Φαλίσκους.
1.65.3Καρχηδονίους δὲ
Syntactically, the main verb ἐξεδέξατο and the core of the subject πόλεμος from the preceding section are omitted and must be supplied. The subject is οὐ μικρὸς οὐδʼ εὐκαταφρόνητος [πόλεμος] ὁ πρὸς τοὺς ξένους ...
1.65.7τῶν ... ἐκτεθραμμένων
A genitive of comparison. Although there is no explicit comparative adjective, it is governed by the verb διαφέρει (to differ), functioning as the standard of comparison ("differ from..."). It is contrasted with the preceding subject ἤθη σύμμικτα καὶ βάρβαρα.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.65.1-1.65.9