Hannibal's Provocation and Fabius's Delaying Tactics — Polybius, The Histories Book 3 (3.89.1–3.89.9), Greek & English

§3.89.1

δίους. Ἀννίβας δὲ συνεὶς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Φαβίου καὶ βουλόμενος ἐξ ἐφόδου καταπλήξασθαι τοὺς ὑπεναντίους, ἐξαγαγὼν τὴν δύναμιν καὶ συνεγγίσας τῷ τῶν Ῥωμαίων χάρακι παρετάξατο. χρόνον δέ τινα μείνας, οὐδενὸς ἐπεξιόντος αὖθις ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρεμβολήν.

stades. Hannibal, perceiving the presence of Fabius and wishing to strike terror into his opponents by a sudden onset, led out his army, and drawing near to the Roman palisade, marshalled them for battle. Having waited for some time, since no one came out against him, he withdrew again to his own camp.

§3.89.2

ὁ γὰρ Φάβιος διεγνωκὼς μήτε παραβάλλεσθαι μήτε διακινδυνεύειν, στοχάζεσθαι δὲ πρῶτον καὶ μάλιστα τῆς ἀσφαλείας τῶν ὑποταττομένων, ἔμενε βεβαίως ἐπὶ τῆς διαλήψεως ταύτης.

For Fabius, having resolved neither to risk an action nor to hazard a decisive battle, but to aim first and foremost at the safety of those under his command, remained firmly attached to this resolution.

§3.89.3

τὰς μὲν οὖν ἀρχὰς κατεφρονεῖτο καὶ παρεῖχε λόγον ὡς ἀποδεδειλιακὼς καὶ καταπεπληγμένος τὸν κίνδυνον, τῷ δὲ χρόνῳ πάντας ἠνάγκασε παρομολογῆσαι καὶ συγχωρεῖν ὡς οὔτε νουνεχέστερον οὔτε φρονιμώτερον οὐδένα δυνατὸν ἦν χρῆσθαι τοῖς τότε περιεστῶσι καιροῖς.

At first, indeed, he was despised and gave occasion for talk as if he were a coward and terrified of the danger; but in course of time he compelled everyone to admit and agree that no one could have dealt with the then surrounding circumstances more sensibly or wisely.

§3.89.4

ταχὺ δὲ καὶ τὰ πράγματα προσεμαρτύρησε τοῖς λογισμοῖς αὐτοῦ. καὶ τοῦτʼ εἰκότως ἐγένετο.

Soon, indeed, events also bore witness to his calculations. And this happened naturally.

§3.89.5

τὰς μὲν γὰρ τῶν ὑπεναντίων δυνάμεις συνέβαινε¹ γεγυμνάσθαι μὲν ἐκ τῆς πρώτης ἡλικίας συνεχῶς ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς, ἡγεμόνι δὲ χρῆσθαι συντεθραμμένῳ σφίσι καὶ παιδομαθεῖ περὶ τὰς ἐν τοῖς ὑπαίθροις χρείας, νενικηκέναι δὲ πολλὰς μὲν ἐν Ἰβηρίᾳ μάχας, δὶς δὲ Ῥωμαίους ἑξῆς καὶ τοὺς συμμάχους αὐτῶν, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, ἀπεγνωκότας² πάντα μίαν ἔχειν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας τὴν ἐν τῷ νικᾶν·

For it happened that the forces of the enemy had been trained continuously in military matters from early youth, and had a leader who had been brought up with them and trained from childhood in operations in the field; and that they had won many battles in Iberia, and had twice in succession defeated the Romans and their allies, and, what was most important of all, having despaired of everything else, had their only hope of safety in victory.

§3.89.7

περὶ δὲ τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατιὰν τἀναντία τούτοις ὑπῆρχε.

But with the Roman army the opposite of these conditions existed.

§3.89.8

διόπερ εἰς μὲν τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων κίνδυνον οὐχ οἷός τʼ ἦν συγκαταβαίνειν, προδήλου τῆς ἐλαττώσεως ὑπαρχούσης·³ εἰς δὲ τὰ σφέτερα προτερήματα τοῖς λογισμοῖς⁴ ἀναχωρήσας ἐν τούτοις διέτριβε καὶ διὰ τούτων ἐχείριζε τὸν πόλεμον.

Therefore Fabius was not able to descend into a risk involving the whole issue, since their inferiority was manifest; but retreating in his calculations to their own advantages, he persisted in these and through them conducted the war.

§3.89.9

ἦν δὲ τὰ προτερήματα Ῥωμαίων ἀκατάτριπτα χορήγια

And the advantages of the Romans were inexhaustible supplies and

Syntax notes4 items

3.89.5συνέβαινε
An impersonal verb governing the following accusative subjects and infinitives (γεγυμνάσθαι, χρῆσθαι in §3.89.5 and νενικηκέναι, ἔχειν in §3.89.6), forming a long complex structure meaning 'it happened that...'.
3.89.6ἀπεγνωκότας
Perfect participle, masculine plural accusative, agreeing in sense with the soldiers comprising τὰς δυνάμεις (the subject of the infinitives depending on συνέβαινε in §3.89.5).
3.89.8προδήλου τῆς ἐλαττώσεως ὑπαρχούσης
Genitive absolute construction expressing cause ('since their inferiority was manifest').
3.89.8τοῖς λογισμοῖς
Dative of means or manner, meaning 'by rational calculations' or 'in his reflections'.

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

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.89.1-3.89.9