- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:15.3.1-15.3.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
Following the attack on the envoys, the war between Rome and Carthage intensifies, and both sides prepare for a decisive battle. Hannibal, lacking cavalry, requests aid from the Numidian Tychaeus, who joins him with two thousand horsemen.
γενομένων δὲ τούτων αὖθις ὁ πόλεμος ἄλλην ἀρχὴν εἰλήφει βαρυτέραν τῆς πρόσθεν καὶ δυσμενικωτέραν.
After these things had happened, the war took a new beginning, more grievous and hostile than before.
οἵ τε γὰρ Ῥωμαῖοι δοκοῦντες παρεσπονδῆσθαι1 φιλοτίμως διέκειντο πρὸς τὸ περιγενέσθαι τῶν Καρχηδονίων, οἵ τε Καρχηδόνιοι συνειδότες σφίσι τὰ πεπραγμένα2 πρὸς πᾶν ἑτοίμως εἶχον πρὸς τὸ μὴ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ὑποχείριοι γενηθῆναι.
For the Romans, thinking they had been treated with treachery, were eagerly resolved to get the better of the Carthaginians; while the Carthaginians, conscious of what they had done, were ready to face anything to avoid falling into the hands of their enemies.
τοιαύτης δὲ τῆς ἐξ ἀμφοῖν παραστάσεως ὑπαρχούσης προφανὲς ἦν ὅτι δεήσει μάχῃ κρίνεσθαι περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων.
Since such was the attitude of both sides, it was manifest that the current issues would have to be decided by battle.
ἐξ οὗ συνέβαινε μὴ μόνον τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν καὶ Λιβύην πάντας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἰβηρίαν καὶ Σικελίαν καὶ Σαρδόνα μετεώρους εἶναι καὶ περισπᾶσθαι ταῖς διανοίαις, καραδοκοῦντας τὸ συμβησόμενον.
As a result, not only all the inhabitants of Italy and Libya, but also those of Iberia, Sicily, and Sardinia, were in suspense and distracted in their minds, anxiously awaiting the issue.
κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον Ἀννίβας, ἐλλείπων τοῖς ἱππικοῖς, διέπεμπε πρός τινα Νομάδα Τυχαῖον, ὃς ἦν μὲν οἰκεῖος Σόφακος, ἱππεῖς δὲ μαχιμωτάτους ἔχειν ἐδόκει τῶν κατὰ τὴν Λιβύην, παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν βοηθεῖν καὶ συνεπιλαμβάνεσθαι τοῦ καιροῦ, σαφῶς γινώσκοντα3 διότι Καρχηδονίων κρατησάντων δύναται διαφυλάττειν τὴν ἀρχήν, Ῥωμαίων δʼ ἐκνικησάντων καὶ τῷ βίῳ κινδυνεύσει διὰ τὴν Μασαννάσου φιλαρχίαν.
At this time Hannibal, being deficient in cavalry, sent to a certain Numidian named Tychaeus, who was a kinsman of Syphax, and was thought to possess the most warlike cavalry in Libya, urging him to come to his assistance and take his part in the crisis, knowing well that if the Carthaginians got the upper hand he would be able to preserve his dominion, but if the Romans conquered he would run a risk even of his life through the ambition of Masinissa.
οὗτος οὖν πεισθεὶς τοῖς παρακαλουμένοις ἧκε μετὰ δισχιλίων ἱππέων πρὸς τὸν Ἀννίβαν.
He, then, persuaded by these entreaties, came to Hannibal with two thousand cavalry.
- 15.3.2δοκοῦντες παρεσπονδῆσθαι
The infinitive παρεσπονδῆσθαι is the perfect passive of παρασπονδέω (to break a treaty). Used with δοκοῦντες and referring to the Romans, it has the passive force of 'thinking they had been treated with treachery'.
- 15.3.2συνειδότες σφίσι τὰ πεπραγμένα
The participle συνειδότες (perfect of σύνοιδα, 'to be conscious of') is used with the dative of the reflexive pronoun σφίσι, expressing 'being conscious of their own deeds' (referring to the Carthaginians' assault on the envoys).
- 15.3.6σαφῶς γινώσκοντα
The accusative participle γινώσκοντα modifies the preceding accusative pronoun αὐτόν (referring to Tychaeus), which is the subject of the infinitives, rather than Hannibal, the subject of the main clause.