Publius' Speech on the Treachery of Andobales — Polybius, The Histories Book 11 (11.31.1–11.31.8), Greek & English

§11.31.1

ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος συναθροίσας εὐθέως ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ Καρχηδόνι τὰς δυνάμεις εἰς ἐκκλησίαν ἔλεγε περί τε τῆς Ἀνδοβάλου τόλμης καὶ τῆς εἰς αὐτοὺς ἀθεσίας, καὶ πολλὰ πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ἐνεγκάμενος παρώξυνε τοὺς πολλοὺς πρὸς τὴν κατὰ τῶν προειρημένων δυναστῶν ὁρμήν.

Publius, having immediately assembled his forces for a meeting in Carthage itself, spoke of the daring of Andobales and his perfidy toward them, and having adduced many arguments on this point, he incited the multitude to attack the aforementioned dynasts.

§11.31.3

ἐπὶ δὲ τούτοις ἐξηριθμήσατο τοὺς προγεγενημένους αὐτοῖς ἀγῶνας πρὸς Ἴβηρας ὁμοῦ καὶ πρὸς Καρχηδονίους, στρατηγούντων Καρχηδονίων, ἐν οἷς ἀεὶ νικῶντας οὐ καθήκειν ἔφη νυνὶ διαπορεῖν,¹ μήποτε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ἴβηρας Ἀνδοβάλου στρατηγοῦντος μαχόμενοι λειφθῶσι.

In addition to this, he enumerated the conflicts they had previously engaged in against both Iberians and Carthaginians, under the leadership of the Carthaginians, in which, as they had always been victorious, he said it was not fitting for them now to be in doubt, lest they should be defeated when fighting against the Iberians themselves under the command of Andobales.

§11.31.5

διόπερ οὐδὲ προσδέξασθαι συναγωνιστὴν Ἰβήρων οὐδένα καθάπαξ ἔφη, διʼ αὐτῶν δὲ Ῥωμαίων συστήσασθαι τὸν κίνδυνον, ἵνα φανερὸν γένηται πᾶσιν ὡς οὐκ Ἴβηρσι Καρχηδονίους καταπολεμησάμενοι,² καθάπερ ἔνιοί φασιν, ἐξεβάλομεν ἐξ Ἰβηρίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ Καρχηδονίους καὶ Κελτίβηρας ταῖς Ῥωμαίων ἀρεταῖς καὶ τῇ σφετέρᾳ γενναιότητι νενικήκαμεν. ταῦτα δʼ εἰπὼν ὁμονοεῖν παρῄνει καὶ θαρροῦντας, εἰ καὶ πρὸς ἄλλον τινά, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτον³ ἰέναι τὸν κίνδυνον. περὶ δὲ τοῦ νικᾶν αὐτὸς ἔφη μετὰ τῶν θεῶν ποιήσασθαι τὴν καθήκουσαν πρόνοιαν.

Therefore, he said he would not accept any Iberian as an ally at all, but would engage in the danger with the Romans alone, so that it might become manifest to all that we did not expel the Carthaginians from Iberia by defeating them with the help of the Iberians, as some say, but that we have conquered both Carthaginians and Celtiberians by the valour of the Romans and our own nobility. Having said this, he exhorted them to be of one mind, and with confidence, to march against this danger, if indeed they would against any other. As for victory, he said that he himself, with the help of the gods, would make the proper provision.

§11.31.8

τῷ δὲ πλήθει τοιαύτη παρέστη προθυμία καὶ θάρσος ὥστε παραπλησίους εἶναι πάντας ἐκ τῆς ἀπόψεως τοῖς ὁρῶσι τοὺς πολεμίους καὶ μέλλουσιν ὅσον οὔπω πρὸς αὐτοὺς διακινδυνεύειν.

And such eagerness and courage came upon the multitude that all, in their appearance, were very like those who see the enemy and are about to risk a battle with them almost immediately.

Syntax notes3 items

11.31.4ἀεὶ νικᾶντας οὐ καθήκειν ἔφη νυνὶ διαπορεῖν
"νικᾶντας" is an accusative participle modifying the implied subject (the Roman soldiers) of the infinitive "διαπορεῖν" in the accusative-and-infinitive construction. "οὐ καθήκειν" functions impersonally, meaning "it is not fitting," indicating that it is unreasonable for those who have always conquered to now be in doubt.
11.31.6οὐκ Ἴβηρσι Καρχηδονίους καταπολεμησάμενοι
The dative "Ἴβηρσι" expresses means or instrument ("by means of/with the help of the Iberians"). The participle "καταπολεμησάμενοι" goes with the main verb "ἐξεβάλομεν", forming the negative premise that "it was not by defeating the Carthaginians with the help of the Iberians [that we expelled them]."
11.31.7εἰ καὶ πρὸς ἄλλον τινά, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτον
In the conditional clause "εἰ καὶ πρὸς ἄλλον τινά" ("if indeed against any other [danger]"), the verb "ἰέναι" is omitted. Combined with the following "καὶ πρὸς τοῦτον" ("also against this one"), it forms an emphatic comparison: "they should march against this danger just as they would against any other."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.31.1-11.31.8