Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §10.38.1-10.38.10

Scipio's Alliance with the Chieftains and Advance on Baecula

Passage 684 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Publius makes a treaty with the Iberian chieftains and restores their daughters. He then advances against Hasdrubal near Baecula, who has occupied a strong position, and decides to hazard a battle to avoid encirclement.

§10.38.1καὶ πλείω πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν διαλεχθέντων, ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσαν τὸν λόγον, μεταλαβὼν ὁ Πόπλιος καὶ τοῖς ὑπʼ ἐκείνων εἰρημένοις ἔφη πιστεύειν, μάλιστα δὲ γινώσκειν τὴν Καρχηδονίων ὕβριν ἔκ τε τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἄλλους Ἴβηρας καὶ μάλιστα τῆς εἰς τὰς ἐκείνων γυναῖκας καὶ θυγατέρας ἀσελγείας,
καὶ πλείω πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν διαλεχθέντων, ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσαν τὸν λόγον, μεταλαβὼν ὁ Πόπλιος καὶ τοῖς ὑπʼ ἐκείνων εἰρημένοις ἔφη πιστεύειν, μάλιστα δὲ γινώσκειν τὴν Καρχηδονίων ὕβριν ἔκ τε τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἄλλους Ἴβηρας καὶ μάλιστα τῆς εἰς τὰς ἐκείνων γυναῖκας καὶ θυγατέρας ἀσελγείας, When they had spoken further on this subject and had finished their speech, Publius in his reply said that he believed what they said, and that he was especially well aware of the insolence of the Carthaginians, both from their conduct towards the other Iberians, and above all from their outrageous treatment of their wives and daughters.
§10.38.2ἃς αὐτὸς παρειληφὼς νῦν οὐχ ὁμήρων ἐχούσας διάθεσιν, ἀλλʼ αἰχμαλώτων καὶ δούλων, οὕτως τετηρηκέναι τὴν πίστιν ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν αὐτοὺς ἐκείνους τηρῆσαι πατέρας ὑπάρχοντας.
These women, whom he himself had received, though they were now in the position not of hostages but of captives and slaves, he had protected with such fidelity as not even their own fathers could have maintained. These women, whom he himself had received, though they were now in the position not of hostages but of captives and slaves, he had protected with such fidelity as not even their own fathers could have maintained.
§10.38.3τῶν δʼ ἀνθομολογησαμένων διότι παρακολουθοῦσι καὶ προσκυνησάντων αὐτὸν καὶ προσφωνησάντων βασιλέα πάντων, οἱ μὲν παρόντες ἐπεσημήναντο τὸ ῥηθέν, ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος ἐντραπεὶς θαρρεῖν αὐτοῖς παρῄνει· τεύξεσθαι γὰρ ἔφη σφᾶς ἁπάντων τῶν φιλανθρώπων ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων.
When they acknowledged that they understood this, and having done him obeisance, saluted him as king of all, those present applauded what was said, but Publius, feeling embarrassed, bade them be of good courage, for he said they would experience every kindness from the Romans. When they acknowledged that they understood this, and having done him obeisance, saluted him as king of all, those present applauded what was said, but Publius, feeling embarrassed, bade them be of good courage, for he said they would experience every kindness from the Romans.
§10.38.4καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν ἐκ χειρὸς τὰς θυγατέρας ἀπέδωκε, τῇ δʼ ἐπαύριον ἐποιεῖτο τὰς συνθήκας πρὸς αὐτούς.
And immediately he restored their daughters to them with his own hand, and on the following day made a treaty with them. And immediately he restored their daughters to them with his own hand, and on the following day made a treaty with them.
§10.38.5ἦν δὲ τὸ συνέχον τῶν ὁμολογηθέντων ἀκολουθεῖν τοῖς Ῥωμαίων ἄρχουσι καὶ πείθεσθαι τοῖς ὑπὸ τούτων παραγγελλομένοις.
The main point of the agreement was that they should follow the Roman commanders and obey the orders given by them. The main point of the agreement was that they should follow the Roman commanders and obey the orders given by them.
§10.38.6γενομένων δὲ τούτων ἀναχωρήσαντες εἰς τὰς αὑτῶν παρεμβολὰς καὶ παραλαβόντες τὰς δυνάμεις, ἧκον πρὸς τὸν Πόπλιον, καὶ στρατοπεδεύσαντες ὁμοῦ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις προῆγον ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν.
When this was done, they retired to their own camp, and having taken up their forces, came to Publius, and having encamped together with the Romans, advanced against Hasdrubal. When this was done, they retired to their own camp, and having taken up their forces, came to Publius, and having encamped together with the Romans, advanced against Hasdrubal.
§10.38.7ὁ δὲ τῶν Καρχηδονίων στρατηγὸς ἐτύγχανε μὲν διατρίβων ἐν τοῖς περὶ Κασταλῶνα τόποις περὶ Βαίκυλα πόλιν οὐ μακρὰν τῶν ἀργυρείων μετάλλων·
ὁ δὲ τῶν Καρχηδονίων στρατηγὸς ἐτύγχανε μὲν διατρίβων ἐν τοῖς περὶ Κασταλῶνα τόποις περὶ Βαίκυλα πόλιν οὐ μακρὰν τῶν ἀργυρείων μετάλλων· The Carthaginian general happened to be staying in the district of Castulo near the town of Baecula, not far from the silver mines.
§10.38.8πυθόμενος δὲ τὴν παρουσίαν τῶν Ῥωμαίων μετεστρατοπέδευσε, καὶ λαβὼν ἐκ μὲν τῶν ὄπισθεν ποταμὸν ἀσφαλῆ, παρὰ δὲ τὴν κατὰ πρόσωπον πλευρὰν τοῦ χάρακος ἐπίπεδον τόπον, ὀφρὺν προβεβλημένην ἔχοντα καὶ βάθος ἱκανὸν πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν καὶ μῆκος πρὸς ἔκταξιν, ἔμενεν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑποκειμένων, προτιθέμενος ἐπὶ τὴν ὀφρὺν ἀεὶ τὰς ἐφεδρείας.
Having learnt of the arrival of the Romans, he shifted his camp, and securing a safe river in his rear, and in front of his rampart a level space protected by a ridge, which had a height sufficient for security and a length sufficient for drawing up an army, he remained on the ground, always placing his outposts on the ridge. Having learnt of the arrival of the Romans, he shifted his camp, and securing a safe river in his rear, and in front of his rampart a level space protected by a ridge, which had a height sufficient for security and a length sufficient for drawing up an army, he remained on the ground, always placing his outposts on the ridge.
§10.38.9ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος ἐγγίσας προθύμως μὲν εἶχε πρὸς τὸ διακινδυνεύειν, ἀπόρως δὲ διέκειτο, θεωρῶν τοὺς τόπους εὐφυεῖς ὄντας πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἐναντίων ἀσφάλειαν.
Publius, on nearing him, was eager to risk a battle, but was in difficulty, seeing that the ground was naturally favorable for the safety of the enemy. Publius, on nearing him, was eager to risk a battle, but was in difficulty, seeing that the ground was naturally favorable for the safety of the enemy.
§10.38.10οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ προσανασχὼν δύʼ ἡμέρας καὶ διαγωνιάσας μὴ συνεπιγενομένων τῶν περὶ τὸν Μάγωνα καὶ τὸν τοῦ Γέσκωνος Ἀσδρούβαν πανταχόθεν αὐτὸν οἱ πολέμιοι περιστῶσιν, ἔκρινε παραβάλλεσθαι καὶ καταπειράζειν τῶν ὑπεναντίων.
However, after waiting for two days, and being anxious lest Mago and Hasdrubal the son of Gesco should arrive and the enemy surround him on all sides, he decided to run the risk and make a trial of the opponents. However, after waiting for two days, and being anxious lest Mago and Hasdrubal the son of Gesco should arrive and the enemy surround him on all sides, he decided to run the risk and make a trial of the opponents.

Notes

  1. 10.38.1πλείω πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν διαλεχθέντων — Genitive absolute construction where αὐτῶν is the subject of the participle διαλεχθέντων. πλείω πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος is an accusative object meaning "more things on this subject."
  2. 10.38.2ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν αὐτοὺς ἐκείνους τηρῆσαι πατέρας ὑπάρχοντας — Inside the result clause introduced by ὡς, ἂν τηρῆσαι represents an original potential or unreal indicative (ἂν ἐτήρησαν or ἂν τηρήσειαν) turned into an infinitive in indirect discourse. The participle πατέρας ὑπάρχοντας agrees with the subject accusative αὐτοὺς ἐκείνους, meaning "even if they themselves were their fathers."
  3. 10.38.3τῶν δʼ ἀνθομολογησαμένων διότι παρακολουθοῦσι — A series of genitive participles form a genitive absolute with the demonstrative pronoun τῶν. The conjunction διότι here functions like ὅτι ("that") introducing a noun clause dependent on the participle of agreement.
  4. 10.38.8λαβὼν ἐκ μὲν τῶν ὄπισθεν ποταμὸν ἀσφαλῆ, παρὰ δὲ τὴν κατὰ πρόσωπον πλευρὰν τοῦ χάρακος ἐπίπεδον τόπον, ὀφρὺν προβεβλημένην ἔχοντα — The participle λαβὼν governs two objects: ποταμὸν and ἐπίπεδον τόπον. The latter is modified by the participle ἔχοντα. The word ὀφρὺν refers to a "ridge" or "brow" of a hill, which is modified by the attributive participle προβεβλημένην ("projected forward").
  5. 10.38.10διαγωνιάσας μὴ συνεπιγενομένων τῶν περὶ τὸν Μάγωνα... πανταχόθεν αὐτὸν οἱ πολέμιοι περιστῶσιν — The participle of fearing διαγωνιάσας introduces a fearing clause with μὴ and the subjunctive περιστῶσιν ("lest they should surround"). Within this clause, a genitive absolute (συνεπιγενομένων τῶν περὶ τὸν Μάγωνα...) is embedded to express the condition or time.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §10.38.1-10.38.10. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.38.1-10.38.10

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