Delphi Complete Works of Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics Book 79)

by Dionysius of Halicarnassus

  [4] As for the reasons which have induced us to entertain these suspicions, they are neither divinations nor conjectures, but overt deeds, and deeds, too, that happened, not long ago, but only last year, as you all know. For when a large and excellent army had taken the field against this very enemy and the first battle had had the most successful outcome for us, so that your commander at the time, the consul Caeso, my brother here, could not only have taken the enemy’s camp, but also have brought back a most glorious victory for the fatherland, some of the soldiers, begrudging him the glorious because he was not a friend of the people and did not constantly pursue such a course as was pleasing to the poor, struck their tents the first night after the battle and without orders ran away from the camp, neither taking thought for the danger they would incur in retreating from a hostile country in disorderly fashion and without a general, and that too in the night, nor taking into account all the disgrace that was sure to come upon them for yielding the supremacy to the enemy, as far at least as in them lay, and yielding it, moreover, as victors to the vanquished.

  [5] νικήσαντες τοῖς κεκρατημένοις. τούτους δὴ τοὺς ἄνδρας ὀρρωδοῦντες, ὦ ταξίαρχοί τε καὶ λοχαγοὶ καὶ στρατιῶται, τοὺς οὔτ᾽ ἄρχειν δυναμένους οὔτ᾽ ἄρχεσθαι βουλομένους πολλοὺς καὶ αὐθάδεις ὄντας καὶ τὰ ὅπλα ἔχοντας ἐν χερσίν, οὔτε πρότερον ἐβουλόμεθα μάχην συνάπτειν οὔτε νῦν ἔτι θαρσοῦμεν ἐπὶ τοιούτοις συμμάχοις τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν μεγίστων ἀγῶνα ἄρασθαι, μὴ κωλύματα καὶ βλάβαι γένωνται τοῖς ἅπαντα τὰ καθ᾽

  [5] Being afraid, therefore, tribunes, centurions, and soldiers, of these men who are neither able to command nor willing to obey, who are numerous and bold and have their weapons in their hands, we have been unwilling hitherto to join battle and dare not even now, with such men to support us, engage in a life-and-death struggle, lest they prove hindrances and detriments to those who are displaying all the alacrity in their power.

  [6] ἑαυτοὺς πρόθυμα παρεχομένοις. εἰ μέντοι κἀκείνων ὁ θεὸς ἐπὶ τὰ κρείττω τὸν νοῦν ἄγει νυνὶ καὶ καταβαλόντες τὸ στασιάζον, ὑφ᾽ οὗ νῦν πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα βλάπτεται τὸ κοινόν, ἤ γε δὴ εἰς τοὺς τῆς εἰρήνης ἀναβαλόμενοι καιρούς, ἐπανορθώσασθαι βούλονται τὰ παρελθόντα ὀνείδη τῇ νῦν ἀρετῇ, μηδὲν ἔτι τὸ κωλῦσον ἔστω χωρεῖν ὑμᾶς ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, τὰς ἀγαθὰς προβαλλομένους ἐλπίδας.

  [6] If, however, Heaven is turning the minds of even these men to better ways at the present time, and if, laying aside their seditious spirit, from which the commonwealth is suffering very great harm, or at least postponing it till times of peace, they wish to redeem their pas disgraces by their present valour, let there be no further hindrance to your advancing against the foe, setting before your eyes the fair hopes of victory.

  [7] ἔχομεν δὲ πολλὰς μὲν καὶ ἄλλας ἀφορμὰς εἰς τὸ νικᾶν, μεγίστας δὲ καὶ κυριωτάτας, ἃς τὸ τῶν πολεμίων ἀνόητον ἡμῖν παρέχει, οἵ γε πλήθει στρατιᾶς μακρῷ προὔχοντες ἡμῶν καὶ τούτῳ [p. 286] μόνῳ δυνηθέντες ἂν πρὸς τὰς ἡμετέρας τόλμας τε καὶ ἐμπειρίας ἀντέχειν ἀπεστερήκασι τῆς μόνης ὠφελείας ἑαυτοὺς ἀπαναλώσαντες τὸ πλεῖον τῆς δυνάμεως μέρος εἰς τὰς τῶν φρουρίων φυλακάς.

  [7] “We have many resources for winning, but greatest and most decisive are those afforded us by the folly of the enemy. For though they far exceed us in the size of their army, and for that reason alone might have withstood our courage and experience, they have deprived themselves of their only advantage by using up the greater part of their forces in garrisoning the forts.

  [8] ἔπειτα δέον αὐτοὺς σὺν εὐλαβείᾳ καὶ λογισμῷ σώφρονι πράττειν ἕκαστα, ἐνθυμουμένους, πρὸς οἵους ἄνδρας καὶ πολὺ ἀλκιμωτέρους αὐτῶν ὁ κίνδυνος ἔσται, θρασέως καὶ ἀπερισκέπτως ἐπὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα χωροῦσιν, ὡς ἄμαχοί τινες καὶ ὡς ἡμῶν καταπεπληγότων αὐτούς. αἱ γοῦν ἀποταφρεύσεις καὶ αἱ μέχρι τοῦ χάρακος ἡμῶν καθιππεύσεις καὶ τὰ πολλὰ ἐν λόγοις τε καὶ ἔργοις ὑβρίσματα τοῦτο δύναται.

  [8] In the next place, when they ought to act with caution and sober reason in everything they do, bearing in mind against what kind of men, actually far superior to them in valour, the hazard will be, they enter the struggle recklessly and incautiously, as if forsooth they were some invincible warriors and as if we stood in terror of them. At any rate, their digging of ditches round our camp, their riding up to our entrenchments, and their many insults both in word and actions indicate this.

  [9] ταῦτά τε δὴ ἐνθυμούμενοι καὶ τῶν προτέρων ἀγώνων μεμνημένοι πολλῶν ὄντων καὶ καλῶν, ἐν οἷς αὐτοὺς ἐνικᾶτε, χωρεῖτε μετὰ προθυμίας καὶ ἐπὶ τόνδε τὸν ἀγῶνα: καὶ ἐν ᾧ ἂν ὑμῶν ἕκαστος χωρίῳ ταχθῇ, τοῦθ᾽ ὑπολαβέτω καὶ οἶκον εἶναι καὶ κλῆρον καὶ πατρίδα: καὶ ὅ τε σώζων τὸν παραστάτην ἑαυτῷ πράττειν τὴν σωτηρίαν ὑπολαβέτω, καὶ ὁ ἐγκαταλιπὼν τὸν πέλας ἑαυτὸν ἡγείσθω τοῖς πολεμίοις προδιδόναι. μάλιστα δ᾽ ἐκεῖνο μεμνῆσθαι προσῆκεν, ὅτι μενόντων μὲν ἀνδρῶν καὶ μαχομένων ὀλίγον τὸ ἀπολλύμενόν ἐστιν, ἐγκλινάντων δὲ καὶ φευγόντων κομιδῇ βραχὺ σωζόμενον.

  [9] Bearing these thoughts in mind, then, and remembering the many glorious battles of the past in which you have overcome them, enter with alacrity into this contest also. And let every one of you look upon the spot in which he shall be posted as his house, his lot of land, and his country. Let him who saves the man beside him feel that he is effecting his own safety, and let him who forsakes his comrade feel that he is delivering himself up to the enemy. But, above all, you should remember this, that when men stand their ground and fight their losses are small, but when they give way and flee very few are saved.”

  [1] ἔτι δ᾽ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος τὰ εἰς τὸ γενναῖον ἐπαγωγὰ [p. 287] καὶ πολλὰ μεταξὺ τῶν λόγων ἐκχέοντος δάκρυα, λοχαγῶν τε καὶ ταξιάρχων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων στρατιωτῶν ἕκαστον, ᾧ συνῄδει τι λαμπρὸν ἔργον ἐν μάχαις ἀποδειξαμένῳ, κατ᾽ ὄνομα ἀνακαλοῦντος, καὶ πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα τοῖς ἀριστεύσασι κατὰ τὴν μάχην φιλάνθρωπα δώσειν ὑπισχνουμένου πρὸς τὸ τῶν πράξεων μέγεθος, τιμάς τε καὶ πλούτους καὶ τὰς ἄλλας βοηθείας, ἀναβοήσεις ἐξ ἁπάντων ἐγίνοντο θαρρεῖν τε παρακελευομένων καὶ ἄγειν ἐπὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα ἀξιούντων.

  [10.1] While he was yet uttering these encouragements to bravery and accompanying his words with many tears, calling by name each one of the centurions, tribunes, and common soldier
s whom he knew to have performed some gallant action in battle, and promising to those who should distinguish themselves in this engagement many great rewards in proportion to the magnitude of their deeds, such as honours, riches, and all the other advantages, shouts arose from all of them as they bade him be of good cheer and demanded that he lead them to battle.

  [2] ἐπειδὴ δ᾽ ἐπαύσατο, προέρχεταί τις ἐκ τοῦ πλήθους, Μάρκος Φλαβολήιος ὄνομα, ἀνὴρ δημοτικὸς μὲν καὶ αὐτουργός, οὐ μὴν τῶν ἀπερριμμένων τις, ἀλλὰ τῶν ἐπαινουμένων δἰ ἀρετὴν καὶ τὰ πολέμια ἄλκιμος, καὶ δι᾽ ἄμφω ταῦτα ἑνὸς τῶν ταγμάτων τῇ λαμπροτάτῃ ἀρχῇ κεκοσμημένος, ᾗ τὰς ἑξήκοντα ἑκατονταρχίας ἕπεσθαί τε καὶ τὸ κελευόμενον ὑπηρετεῖν κελεύει ὁ νόμος. τούτους Ῥωμαῖοι τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῇ πατρίῳ γλώττῃ πριμοπίλους καλοῦσιν.

  [2] As soon as he had done speaking, there came forward from the throng a man named Marcus Flavoleius, a plebeian and a small farmer, though not one of the rabble but one celebrated for his merits and valiant in war and on both these accounts honoured with the most conspicuous command in one of the legions — a command which the sixty centuries are enjoined by the law to follow and obey. These officers the Romans call in their own tongue primipili.

  [3] οὗτος ὁ ἀνήρ — ἦν δὲ πρὸς τοῖς ἄλλοις μέγας τε καὶ καλὸς ἰδεῖν — στάς, ὅθεν ἅπασιν ἔμελλεν ἔσεσθαι φανερός, Ἐπεὶ τοῦτ᾽, ἔφησεν, ὦ ὕπατοι, δεδοίκατε, μὴ τὰ ἔργα ἡμῶν οὐχ ὅμοια γένηται τοῖς λόγοις, ἐγὼ πρῶτος ὑμῖν ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ τὸ βέβαιον τῆς ὑποσχέσεως ἐκ τῆς μεγίστης πίστεως παρέξομαι: καὶ ὑμεῖς δ᾽, ὦ πολῖται τε καὶ τῆς αὐτῆς κοινωνοὶ τύχης, ὅσοι [p. 288] διεγνώκατε εἰς ἴσον καταστῆσαι τὰ ἔργα τοῖς λόγοις,

  [3] This man, who, besides his other recommendations, was tall and fair to look upon, taking his stand where he would be in full view of all, said: “Since this is what you fear, consuls, that our actions will not agree with our words, I will be the first to give you in my own name the greatest pledge I can give. And you too, fellow citizens and sharers of the same fortune, as many of you as are resolved to make your actions match your words, will make no mistake in following my example.”

  [4] οὐκ ἂν ἁμαρτάνοιτε ταὐτὸ ποιοῦντες ἐμοί. ταῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν καὶ τὸ ξίφος ἀνατείνας ὤμοσε τὸν ἐπιχώριόν τε Ῥωμαίοις καὶ κράτιστον ὅρκον, τὴν ἀγαθὴν ἑαυτοῦ πίστιν, νικήσας τοὺς πολεμίους ἥξειν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἄλλως δ᾽ οὔ. τοῦτον ὀμόσαντος τοῦ Φλαβοληίου τὸν ὅρκον πολὺς ἐξ ἁπάντων ἔπαινος ἐγένετο: καὶ αὐτίκα οἵ τε ὕπατοι ἀμφότεροι ταὐτὸν ἔδρων καὶ οἱ τὰς ἐλάττους ἔχοντες στρατηγίας χιλίαρχοί τε καὶ λοχαγοί, τελευτῶσα

  [4] Having said this, he held up his sword and took the oath traditional among the Romans and regarded by them as the mightiest of all, swearing by his own good faith that he would return to Rome victorious over the enemy, or not at all. After Flavoleius had taken this oath there was great applause from all; and immediately both the consuls did the same, as did also the subordinate officers, both tars and centurions, and last of all the rank and file.

  [5] δ᾽ ἡ πληθύς. ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἐγένετο, πολλὴ μὲν εὐθυμία πᾶσιν ἐνέπεσε, πολλὴ δὲ φιλότης ἀλλήλων, θάρσος τ᾽ αὖ καὶ μένος: καὶ ἀπελθόντες ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας, οἱ μὲν ἵπποις χαλινοὺς ἐνέβαλλον, οἱ δὲ ξίφη καὶ λόγχας ἔθηγον, οἱ δὲ τὰ σκεπαστήρια τῶν ὅπλων ἐξέματτον: καὶ ὀλίγου πᾶσα ἦν ἕτοιμος εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα ἡ στρατιά.

  [5] When this had been done, great cheerfulness came upon them all and great affection for one another and also confidence and ardour. And going from the assembly, some bridled their horses, others sharpened their swords and spears, and still others cleaned their defensive arms; and in a short time the whole army was ready for the combat.

  [6] οἱ δ᾽ ὕπατοι τοὺς θεοὺς εὐχαῖς τε καὶ θυσίαις καὶ λιταῖς ἐπικαλεσάμενοι τῆς ἐξόδου σφίσι γενέσθαι ἡγεμόνας, ἐξῆγον ἐκ τοῦ χάρακος ἐν τάξει καὶ κόσμῳ τὸν στρατόν. καὶ οἱ Τυρρηνοὶ κατιόντας αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν ἐρυμάτων ἰδόντες ἐθαύμασάν τε καὶ ἀντεπεξῄεσαν ἁπάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει.

  [6] The consuls, after invoking the gods by vows, sacrifices, and prayers to be their guides as they marched out, led the army out of the camp in regular order and formation. The Tyrrhenians, seeing them come down from their entrenchments, were surprised and marched out with their whole force to meet them.

  [1] ὡς δ᾽ εἰς τὸ πεδίον ἀμφότεροι κατέστησαν, καὶ τὸ πολεμικὸν ἐσήμηναν αἱ σάλπιγγες, ἔθεον ἀλαλάξαντες ὁμόσε: καὶ συμπεσόντες ἀλλήλοις ἱππεῖς ἱππεῦσι καὶ [p. 289] πεζοὶ πεζοῖς ἐμάχοντο, καὶ πολὺς ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων ἐγίνετο φόνος. οἱ μὲν οὖν τὸ δεξιὸν ἔχοντες τῶν Ῥωμαίων κέρας, οὗ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν εἶχεν ὁ ἕτερος τῶν ὑπάτων Μάλλιος, ἐξέωσαν τὸ καθ᾽ ἑαυτοὺς μέρος, καὶ καταβάντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἵππων ἐμάχοντο πεζοί. οἱ δ᾽ ἐν τῷ εὐωνύμῳ κέρατι ταχθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ δεξιοῦ τῶν πολεμίων ἐκυκλοῦντο.

  [11.1] When both armies had come into the plain and the trumpets had sounded the charge, they raised their war-cries and ran to close quarters; and engaging, horse with horse and foot with foot, they fought there, and great was the slaughter on both sides. The troops on the right wing of the Romans, commanded by Manlius, one of the consuls, repulsed the part of the enemy that stood opposite to them, and quitting their horses, fought on foot. But those on the left wing were being surrounded by the enemy’s right wing,

  [2] ἦν γὰρ ἡ Τυρρηνῶν φάλαγξ κατὰ τοῦτο τὸ χωρίον ὑπερπετής τε καὶ οὐκ ὀλίγῳ μείζων τῆς ἑτέρας. παρερρήγνυτο δὴ ταύτῃ τὸ Ῥωμαικὸν στράτευμα καὶ πολλὰς πληγὰς ἐλάμβανεν. ἡγεῖτο δὲ τούτου κέρως Κόιντος Φάβιος, πρεσβευτὴς καὶ ἀντιστράτηγος ὤν, ὁ δὶς ὑπατεύσας: καὶ μέχρι πολλοῦ ἀντεῖχε τραύματα λαμβάνων παντοδαπά, ἔπειτα λόγχῃ βληθεὶς εἰς τὰ στέρνα μέχρι τῶν σπλάγχνων ἐλθούσης τῆς αἰχμῆς ἔξαιμος γενόμενος πίπτει.

  [2] since the Tyrrhenians’ line at this point outflanked that of the Romans and was considerably deeper. Thus the Roman army was being broken in this sector and was receiving many blows. This wing was commanded by Quintus Fabius, who was a legate and proconsul and had been twice consul. He maintained the fight for a long time, receiving wounds of all kinds till, being struck in the breast by a spear, the point of which pierced his bowels, he fell through loss of blood.

/>   [3] ὡς δὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἤκουσεν ὁ ἕτερος τῶν ὑπάτων, Μάρκος Φάβιος — ἦν δὲ κατὰ μέσην τὴν φάλαγγα τεταγμένος — τοὺς κρατίστους τῶν λόχων ἀναλαβὼν καὶ τὸν ἕτερον τῶν ἀδελφῶν Καίσωνα Φάβιον ἀνακαλεσάμενος, παρήλαυνεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ φάλαγγα καὶ μέχρι πολλοῦ προελθών, ἐπειδὴ παρήλλαξεν τὸ δεξιὸν τῶν πολεμίων κέρας, ἤλαυνεν ἐπὶ τοὺς κυκλουμένους. ἐμπεσὼν δ᾽ αὐτοῖς φόνον τε τοῖς ἐν χερσὶ ποιεῖ πολὺν καὶ φυγὴν τῶν πρόσω, τόν τ᾽ ἀδελφὸν ἔτι ἐμπνέοντα καταλαβὼν αἴρεται.