Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 7

1
<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fidion">Ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frais">ἑκατέραις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="porqmo%5Cn">πορθμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktisme%2Fnais">ἐκτισμέναις</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin:">πόλεσιν·</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnh">Μεσσήνη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nw%2Fteron">ἀνώτερον</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akampanoi%5C">Καμπανοὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqoklei%3D">Ἀγαθοκλεῖ</w> <w lemma="misqoforou%3Dntes">μισθοφοροῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmiw%3Dntes">ὀφθαλμιῶντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pexei%2Frhsan">ἐπεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn:">παρασπονδεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="pareiselqo%2Fntes">παρεισελθόντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flioi">φίλιοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasxo%2Fntes">κατασχόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbalon">ἐξέβαλον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsfacan">ἀπέσφαξαν</w>.
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<w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="gunai%3Dkas">γυναῖκας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fkna">τέκνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29klhrhko%2Ftwn">ἠκληρηκότων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fs">ὥς</w> <w lemma="poq%27">ποθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneimen">διένειμεν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxon:">ἔσχον·</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dielo%2Fmenoi">διελόμενοι</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="kalh%3Ds">καλῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="eu%28%3Dron">εὗρον</w> <w lemma="mimhta%5Cs">μιμητὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%3Dnoi">Ῥηγῖνοι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>,
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<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frros">Πύρρος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29peraiou%3Dto">ἐπεραιοῦτο</w>, <w lemma="kataplagei%3Ds">καταπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="qalattokratou%3Dntas">θαλαττοκρατοῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pespa%2Fsanto">ἐπεσπάσαντο</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29selqo%2Fntes">εἰσελθόντες</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="dieth%2Froun">διετήρουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxi%2Flioi">τετρακισχίλιοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%2Fn">ἀριθμόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="%2Ade%2Fkios">Δέκιος</w> <w lemma="%2Akampano%2Fs:">Καμπανός·</w>
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="zhlw%2Fsantes">ζηλώσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%2Fnous">Μαμερτίνους</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%5Cs">συνεργοὺς</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="parespo%2Fndhsan">παρεσπόνδησαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnous">Ῥηγίνους</w>, <w lemma="e%29kpaqei%3Ds">ἐκπαθεῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fa%7C">εὐκαιρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnwn">Ῥηγίνων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fa%7C:">εὐδαιμονίᾳ·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalo%2Fntes">ἐκβαλόντες</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29posfa%2Fcantes">ἀποσφάξαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akampanoi%3Ds">Καμπανοῖς</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxon">κατέσχον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferon">ἔφερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs:">γεγονός·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxo%2Fn">εἶχόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxesqai">συνέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmois">πολέμοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w>, <w lemma="sugklei%2Fsantes">συγκλείσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>.
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<w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyei">καταλήψει</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnous">ἀμυνομένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai">προορᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>, <w lemma="zwgri%2Fa%7C">ζωγρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feusan">ἐκυρίευσαν</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fwn">τριακοσίων</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29napemfqe%2Fntwn">ἀναπεμφθέντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="proagago%2Fntes">προαγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cn">ἀγορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mastigw%2Fsantes">μαστιγώσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29pele%2Fkisan">ἐπελέκισαν</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fas">τιμωρίας</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="diorqou%3Dsqai">διορθοῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnois">Ῥηγίνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdosan">ἀπέδοσαν</w>.
For very much the same fortune had befallen the two cities on the Straits, Messene and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>.
Certain Campanians serving under Agathocles had long cast covetous eyes on the beauty and prosperity of Messene; and not long before the events I am speaking of they availed themselves of the first opportunity to capture it by treachery.
After being admitted as friends and occupying the city, they first expelled or massacred the citizens
and then took possession of the wives and families of the dispossessed victims, just as chance assigned them each at the time of the outrage. They next divided among themselves the land and all other property.
Having thus possessed themselves so quickly and easily of a fine city and territory, they were not long in finding imitators of their exploit.
For the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, when Pyrrhus crossed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, dreading an attack by him and fearing also the Carthaginians who commanded the sea, begged from the Romans a garrison and support.
The force which came, four thousand in number and under the command of Decius, a Campanian, kept the city and their faith for some time,
but at length, anxious to rival the Mamertines and with their co-operation, played the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a> false, and eagerly coveting a city so favourably situated and containing so much private wealth, expelled or massacred the citizens and possessed themselves of the city in the same manner as the Campanians had done. The Romans were highly displeased,
yet could do nothing at the time, as they were occupied with the wars I have already mentioned.
But when they had a free hand they shut up the culprits in the city and proceeded to lay siege to it as I have stated above. When <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a> fell,
most of the besieged were slain in the actual assault, having defended themselves desperately, as they knew what awaited them, but more than three hundred were captured. When they were sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>
the Consuls had them all conducted to the forum and there, according to the Roman custom, scourged and beheaded; their object being to recover as far as possible by this punishment their reputation for good faith with the allies.
The city and territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a> they at once restored to the citizens.