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Polybius · The Histories §16.23.1-16.23.7

Scipio's Return to Rome and Triumph with Syphax

Passage 872 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Publius Cornelius Scipio returns to Rome from Libya and celebrates a grand triumph featuring the captured Masaesylian king Syphax, bringing immense joy and continuous celebrations to the citizens.

§16.23.1Πόπλιος δὲ Σκιπίων ἧκεν ἐκ Λιβύης οὐ πολὺ κατόπιν τῶν προειρημένων καιρῶν.
Publius Scipio returned from Libya not long after the aforementioned times.
§16.23.2οὔσης δὲ τῆς προσδοκίας τῶν πολλῶν ἀκολούθου τῷ μεγέθει τῶν πράξεων, μεγάλην εἶναι συνέβαινε καὶ τὴν φαντασίαν περὶ τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν τοῦ πλήθους εὔνοιαν πρὸς αὐτόν.
Since the expectation of the multitude was commensurate with the magnitude of his deeds, it happened that both the reputation of the man and the goodwill of the crowd toward him were immense.
§16.23.3καὶ τοῦτʼ εἰκότως ἐκ τῶν κατὰ λόγον ἐγίνετο καὶ καθηκόντως· §16.23.4οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἂν ἐλπίσαντες Ἀννίβαν ἐκβαλεῖν ἐξ Ἰταλίας οὐδʼ ἀποτρίψασθαι τὸν ὑπὲρ αὑτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων κίνδυνον, τότε δοκοῦντες ἤδη βεβαίως οὐ μόνον ἐκτὸς γεγονέναι παντὸς φόβου καὶ πάσης περιστάσεως, ἀλλὰ καὶ κρατεῖν τῶν ἐχθρῶν, ὑπερβολὴν οὐ κατέλιπον χαρᾶς.
And this occurred reasonably and in a fitting manner; for having never hoped to expel Hannibal from Italy or to ward off the danger threatening themselves and their families, but then believing that they had already securely escaped every fear and all distress, and moreover that they were victorious over their enemies, they left no room for excess of joy.
ὡς δὲ καὶ τὸν θρίαμβον εἰσῆγε, §16.23.5τότε καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτι διὰ τῆς τῶν εἰσαγομένων ἐνεργείας μιμνησκόμενοι τῶν προγεγονότων κινδύνων ἐκπαθεῖς ἐγίνοντο κατά τε τὴν πρὸς θεοὺς εὐχαριστίαν καὶ κατὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν αἴτιον τῆς τηλικαύτης μεταβολῆς εὔνοιαν.
And when he led in his triumph, then even more, recalling their past dangers through the vivid presence of the things brought in, they became deeply moved both in their gratitude toward the gods and in their goodwill toward the author of so great a change.
§16.23.6καὶ γὰρ ὁ Σόφαξ ὁ τῶν Μασαισυλίων βασιλεὺς ἤχθη τότε διὰ τῆς πόλεως ἐν τῷ θριάμβῳ μετὰ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων· ὃς καὶ μετά τινα χρόνον ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ τὸν βίον μετήλλαξε.
For Syphax, the king of the Masaesylians, was also led then through the city in the triumph along with the captives; who, after some time, departed this life in prison.
§16.23.7τούτων δὲ συντελεσθέντων οἱ μὲν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας ἀγῶνας ἦγον καὶ πανηγύρεις ἐπιφανῶς, χορηγὸν ἔχοντες εἰς ταῦτα τὴν Σκιπίωνος μεγαλοψυχίαν.
When these things were completed, the people in Rome celebrated games and festivals continuously and splendidly for many days, having the generosity of Scipio as their sponsor for these events.

Notes

  1. §16.23.2οὔσης δὲ τῆς προσδοκίας τῶν πολλῶν ἀκολούθου — Genitive absolute construction, where 'τῆς προσδοκίας' is the subject and the adjective 'ἀκολούθου' ('conforming to', 'matching') functions predicatively. It means 'since the expectation of the multitude was commensurate with (the magnitude of his deeds).'
  2. §16.23.4οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἂν ἐλπίσαντες — The particle 'ἄν' is associated with the participle 'ἐλπίσαντες', expressing a past contrary-to-fact condition: '(for they) would never have hoped.' This emphasizes the contrast with their present state of mind (τότε δοκοῦντες ἤδη...).
  3. §16.23.5διὰ τῆς τῶν εἰσαγομένων ἐνεργείας — Refers to the 'vividness' or 'actual sight' of the things (and captives) being brought into the triumphal procession. Rather than abstract 'activity', it emphasizes the vivid, physical presence and reality of the spectacle moving before their eyes.
  4. §16.23.7χορηγὸν ἔχοντες εἰς ταῦτα τὴν Σκιπίωνος μεγαλοψυχίαν — Uses the word 'χορηγός' (originally the financial sponsor of a chorus in Attic drama) metaphorically to indicate that Scipio's generosity (μεγαλοψυχία) was the primary sponsor or funding source for the many games and festivals celebrated in Rome.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §16.23.1-16.23.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:16.23.1-16.23.7

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