woe to the conquered
From LSJ
ἀλλ' ἦν ἅπαντα τεταγμένα νόμων ἐπιταγαῖς → but all their acts were regulated by prescriptions set forth in laws
Wikipedia EN
Vae victis (IPA: [ˈwae̯ ˈwɪktiːs]) is Latin for "woe to the vanquished", or "woe to the conquered". It means that those defeated in battle are entirely at the mercy of their conquerors and should not expect—or request—leniency.
