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Polybius · The Histories §36.6.1-36.6.7

Carthage's Surrender of Weapons at Utica

Passage 1269 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Upon the arrival of the Roman generals at Utica, Carthaginian envoys visited their camp to show submission and, complying with the Roman demand, surrendered an immense quantity of arms and catapults.

§36.6.1καὶ τῶν μὲν ὁμήρων ἐκεῖσε παραχθέντων, οἱ στρατηγοὶ κατήχθησαν εἰς τὴν τῆς Ἰτύκης ἄκραν.
While the hostages were conveyed there, the generals landed at the promontory of Utica.
§36.6.2τούτων δὲ προσπεπτωκότων τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις ὀρθὴ καὶ περίφοβος ἦν ἡ πόλις διὰ τὴν ἀδηλότητα τῶν προσδοκωμένων.
When these tidings reached the Carthaginians, the city was in a state of excitement and terror owing to the uncertainty of what was to be expected.
§36.6.3οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς πρεσβευτὰς πέμπειν τοὺς πευσομένους τῶν ὑπάτων τί δεῖ ποιεῖν καὶ διασαφήσοντας ὅτι πρὸς πᾶν τὸ παραγγελλόμενον ἕτοιμοι πάντες εἰσίν.
Nevertheless, they resolved to send envoys to ask the consuls what they must do, and to declare that they were all ready for every command.
§36.6.4τῶν δὲ πρεσβευτῶν ἀφικομένων εἰς τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων παρεμβολήν, καὶ τοῦ συνεδρίου συναχθέντος, εἰσελθόντες οἱ πρέσβεις διελέγοντο κατὰ τὰς ἐντολάς.
When the envoys arrived at the Roman camp and the council was assembled, the envoys entered and spoke in accordance with their instructions.
§36.6.5ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτερος τῶν ὑπάτων ἐπαινέσας αὐτῶν τὴν πρόθεσιν καὶ προαίρεσιν ἐκέλευε παραδιδόναι τά θʼ ὅπλα καὶ τὰ βέλη πάντα χωρὶς δόλου καὶ ἀπάτης.
The elder of the consuls, having praised their purpose and resolution, ordered them to surrender all their arms and missiles without guile and deceit.
§36.6.6οἱ δὲ πρέσβεις ποιήσειν μὲν ἔφασαν τὸ παραγγελλόμενον, σκοπεῖσθαι δʼ αὐτοὺς ἠξίουν τὸ συμβησόμενον, ἐὰν αὐτοὶ μὲν παραχωρήσωσι τῶν ὅπλων, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ λαβόντες ἀποπλεύσωσιν.
The envoys said indeed that they would do what was commanded, but they requested them to consider what would happen if they themselves should part with their arms and the others, having taken them, should sail away.
ὅμως ταῦτα ἔδωκαν. — §36.6.7δῆλον ἐγένετο διότι μέγα τὸ βάσταγμα τῆς πόλεως ἦν· πλείονα γὰρ εἴκοσι μυριάδων ὅπλα παρέδωκαν Ῥωμαίοις καὶ καταπέλτας δισχιλίους. —
Nevertheless, they gave these up. — It became clear how great was the store of the city; for they surrendered to the Romans more than two hundred thousand sets of armor and two thousand catapults. —

Notes

  1. §36.6.3τοὺς πευσομένους ... καὶ διασαφήσοντας — Accusative plural of the future participles. They modify the object 'envoys' (πρεσβευτάς) to express purpose ('in order to ask... and declare...').
  2. §36.6.6ἐὰν αὐτοὶ μὲν παραχωρήσωσι τῶν ὅπλων, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ λαβόντες ἀποπλεύσωσιν — A conditional clause introduced by ἐάν with the subjunctives (παραχωρήσωσι and ἀποπλεύσωσιν). The apodosis is implied in the nominal phrase 'what would happen' (τὸ συμβησόμενον), which is the object of the preceding infinitive σκοπεῖσθαι. 'αὐτοί' refers to the Carthaginians, while 'ἐκεῖνοι' refers to the Romans.
  3. §36.6.7μέγα τὸ βάσταγμα — A predicate structure within the διότι clause, with the copula ἐστί (or ἦν) omitted, meaning 'how great was the store of the city'. The noun βάσταγμα, generally meaning 'that which is carried' or 'burden', here refers to the military resources or stores of the city.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §36.6.1-36.6.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:36.6.1-36.6.7

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