Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §14.10.1-14.10.12

Carthaginian Fleet's Sortie and Publius's Naval Defense

Passage 806 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

After decisions are reached in Carthage, their fleet sets sail for Utica. Upon realizing this, the Roman general Publius retreats to secure his fleet, constructing a makeshift floating barrier by lashing his decked ships and transport vessels together.

§14.10.1ἅμα τὰς γνώμας.
all their resolutions at the same time.
κριθέντων δὲ τούτων οἱ μὲν εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν μέλλοντες πλεῖν εὐθέως ἐκ τοῦ βουλευτηρίου προῆγον ἐπὶ θάλατταν, ὁ δὲ ναύαρχος ἐπὶ τὰς ναῦς· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ περί τε τῆς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἀσφαλείας προενοοῦντο καὶ περὶ τῶν κατὰ μέρος ἐβουλεύοντο συνεχῶς.
These matters having been decided, those who were to sail to Italy immediately proceeded from the senate-house to the sea, and the admiral to the ships; while the rest provided for the safety of the city and constantly deliberated on the details.
καὶ [ὁ] Πόπλιος, §14.10.2καταγέμοντος ἤδη τοῦ στρατοπέδου τῆς λείας διὰ τὸ μηδένʼ ἀντιπράττειν, ἀλλὰ πάντας εἴκειν ταῖς ἐπιβολαῖς, ἔκρινε τὸ μὲν τῶν λαφύρων πλεῖον εἰς τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς παραπέμψαι παρεμβολήν, §14.10.3αὐτὸς δὲ τὴν στρατείαν ἀναλαβὼν εὔζωνον καταλαβέσθαι τὸν ἐπὶ Τύνητι χάρακα καὶ στρατοπεδεῦσαι τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις ἐν συνόψει· μάλιστα γὰρ οὕτως ἐκφοβήσειν ὑπελάμβανε καὶ καταπλήξειν αὐτούς.
And Publius, since his camp was already overloaded with booty because no one offered any resistance but everyone yielded to his attempts, decided to send back the greater part of the spoils to the original camp; while he himself, taking his army in light marching order, resolved to occupy the fort at Tunes and encamp in full view of the Carthaginians; for he supposed that in this way he would most terrify and strike consternation into them.
§14.10.4οἱ μὲν οὖν Καρχηδόνιοι μετʼ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας τά τε πληρώματα καὶ τὰς σιταρχίας ἑτοίμας ἔχοντες ἐν ταῖς ναυσὶν ἐγίνοντο πρὸς ἀναγωγῇ καὶ τοῖς προκειμένοις· ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος ἧκε πρὸς τὸν Τύνητα, καὶ φυγόντων τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτοῦ τῶν παραφυλαττόντων κατέλαβε τὸν τόπον.
The Carthaginians, then, a few days after, having their crews and provisions ready, went on board their ships for departure and the execution of their plans; while Publius arrived at Tunes, and since those guarding it fled at his approach, he occupied the place.
§14.10.5ὁ δὲ Τύνης ἀπέχει μὲν τῆς Καρχηδόνος ὡς ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι σταδίους, ἔστι δὲ σύνοπτος σχεδὸν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς πόλεως, διαφέρει δʼ ὀχυρότητι καὶ φυσικῇ καὶ χειροποιήτῳ, καθάπερ καὶ πρότερον ἡμῖν εἴρηται.
Tunes is about one hundred and twenty stades distant from Carthage, and is visible from almost the whole city, and is distinguished by both its natural and artificial strength, just as we have mentioned before.
§14.10.6τῶν δὲ Ῥωμαίων ἄρτι κατεστρατοπεδευκότων ἀνήγοντο ταῖς ναυσὶν οἱ Καρχηδόνιοι, ποιούμενοι τὸν πλοῦν εἰς τὴν Ἰτύκην.
The Romans having only just encamped, the Carthaginians put to sea, making their voyage to Utica.
§14.10.7ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος ὁρῶν τὸν ἀνάπλουν τῶν ὑπεναντίων, καὶ δεδιὼς μή τι περὶ τὸ σφέτερον αὐτῶν ναυτικὸν συμβῇ, διεταράττετο πάντων ἀνυπονοήτως διακειμένων καὶ ἀπαρασκεύως πρὸς τὸ μέλλον.
But Publius, seeing the departure of the enemy, and fearing lest some disaster should happen to his own fleet, was deeply disturbed, since everyone was off their guard and unprepared for what was coming.
§14.10.8αὖθις δʼ ἐκ μεταβολῆς ἀναστρατοπεδεύσας ἠπείγετο βοηθήσων τοῖς ἰδίοις πράγμασι.
Changing his plan, he decamped again and hastened to the rescue of his own affairs.
§14.10.9καταλαβὼν δὲ τὰς καταφράκτους ναῦς πρὸς μὲν τὰς ἐξαιρέσεις καὶ προσαγωγὰς τῶν ὀργάνων καὶ καθόλου πρὸς πολιορκίαν εὖ καὶ δεόντως ἐξηρτυμένας, πρὸς δὲ ναυμαχίαν ἥκιστα παρεσκευασμένας, τὸν δὲ τῶν ὑπεναντίων στόλον ἐξ ὅλου τοῦ χειμῶνος πρὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτο κατηρτισμένον, §14.10.10τὸ μὲν ἀντανάγεσθαι καὶ ναυμαχεῖν ἀπογνούς, συνορμίσας δὲ τὰς καταφράκτους νῆας περιέστησε ταύταις τὰς φορτηγοὺς ἐπὶ τρεῖς καὶ τέτταρας τὸ βάθος, §14.10.11κἄπειτα καθελόμενος τοὺς ἱστοὺς καὶ τὰς κεραίας ἔζευξε τούτοις βιαίως πρὸς ἀλλήλας, §14.10.12βραχὺ διάστημα ποιῶν, ὥσθʼ ὑπηρετικοῖς ἐκπλεῖν δύνασθαι καὶ διαπλεῖν.
Finding his decked ships well and properly equipped for the landing and mounting of siege engines, and in general for a siege, but by no means prepared for a naval battle, and seeing that the enemy's fleet had been fitted out during the whole winter for this very purpose, he abandoned the idea of putting out to meet them and engaging in a sea-fight, but, anchoring his decked ships together, he surrounded them with his transports three or four deep, and then, taking down the masts and yards, he bound the vessels tightly together with these, leaving only a small space, so that the light boats could sail out and pass through.

Notes

  1. 14.10.1ἅμα τὰς γνώμας — This accusative phrase syntactically continues from and is governed by the verb ἐκύρωσαν ("they ratified") at the very end of the preceding section (§14.9.11).
  2. 14.10.2καταγέμοντος ἤδη τοῦ στρατοπέδου — A genitive absolute construction. It introduces τὸ στρατόπεδον as a subject separate from the main clause's subject (Πόπλιος) and expresses the cause or reason for the main action (ἔκρινε).
  3. 14.10.9καταλαβὼν δὲ τὰς καταφράκτους ναῦς — The participle καταλαβὼν ("finding/seeing") and the subsequent participle ἀπογνούς ("despairing/abandoning") in §14.10.10 both lead up to the main verb περιέστησε ("surrounded"). A lengthy contrastive clause (πρὸς μὲν... πρὸς δὲ...) is inserted between them, showing how his realization of the ships' unfitness for a naval battle motivated his defensive actions.
  4. 14.10.12ὥσθʼ ὑπηρετικοῖς ἐκπλεῖν δύνασθαι — A result clause introduced by ὥστε. The semantic subject of the infinitives ἐκπλεῖν and διαπλεῖν is expressed by the dative noun ὑπηρετικοῖς ("light/service vessels").

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §14.10.1-14.10.12. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:14.10.1-14.10.12

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.