Polybius, Histories

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Book 11 - Chapter 6

1
<w lemma="lwn">λων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasi">ἅπασι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w>; <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29potri%2Fywntai">ἀποτρίψωνται</w> — <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgw%7C">ὀλίγῳ</w>, <w lemma="sugkekleime%2Fnou">συγκεκλειμένου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Abretti%2Fas">Βρεττίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Ds">βραχεῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> —
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsh%7C">πάσῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsontai">ποιήσονται</w>, <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fsontes">βοηθήσοντες</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fa%7C">ἀληθείᾳ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%5Cs">ἑαυτοὺς</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmenoi">ποιησόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnw">ὑπολαμβάνω</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="katafane%2Fs">καταφανές</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="proqw%3Dntai">προθῶνται</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fsantes">κυριεύσαντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%2Fn">ἐπιγραφήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frcein">ὑπάρξειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pollume%2Fnwn">ἀπολλυμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sw%7Czome%2Fnwn">σῳζομένων</w>. <w lemma="u%28mei%3Ds">ὑμεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikale%2Fsesqe">ἐπικαλέσεσθε</w> <w lemma="ma%2Frturas">μάρτυρας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flhtai">βούληται</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnhtai">δύνηται</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28mi%3Dn">ὑμῖν</w> <w lemma="mhdei%2Fs">μηδείς</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fisws">Ἴσως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai:">προορᾶσθαι·</w>
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="u%28mi%3Dn">ὑμῖν</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon:">πρέπον·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="diafeu%2Fgei">διαφεύγει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpi%2Fnhn">ἀνθρωπίνην</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="sunewrako%2Ftas">συνεωρακότας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29poleloi%2Fpamen">ἀπολελοίπαμεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozo%2Fntwn">ἁρμοζόντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinoi%3Ds">ἀληθινοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dn">δοκοῦν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen:">εἰρήκαμεν·</w>
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<w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ciou%3Dmen">ἀξιοῦμεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%3Dmen">παρακαλοῦμεν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fq%27">μήθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="fqonh%3Dsai">φθονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas">ἐλευθερίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>."
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atou%2Ftou">Τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsantos">ποιήσαντος</w> <w lemma="diatroph%2Fn">διατροπήν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%3Dlqon">εἰσῆλθον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fqento">ὑπερέθεντο</w>, <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkein">ἥκειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ntola%2Fs">ἐντολάς</w>,
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<w lemma="ai%28roume%2Fnwn">αἱρουμένων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="de%2Fxesqai">δέχεσθαι</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntas">παρόντας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="e%29pimarturame%2Fnous">ἐπιμαρτυραμένους</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fzesqai">χωρίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="sumbhsome%2Fnwn">συμβησομένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w>. —
For it is only too evident, I think, that the Romans if they get the war in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> off their hands — and this will be very shortly, as Hannibal is now confined in quite a small district of Bruttium —
will next throw themselves with their whole strength on Grecian lands on the pretext that they are helping the Aetolians against Philip, but really with the intention of conquering the whole country.
Should the Romans, when they have subjected us, determine to treat us kindly, the credit and thanks will be theirs; but if they treat us ill it is they who will acquire the spoil of those they destroy and sovereignty over the survivors, and you will then call the gods to witness when neither any god will be still willing, nor any man still able to help you
"Possibly you should have foreseen all the consequences from the beginning, but as much of the future escapes human foresight, it should be your duty now at last, when these occurrences have opened your eyes to facts, to take better counsel for the future.
As for ourselves we protest that on the present occasion we have neglected nothing which it is proper for true friends to say or do, and we have frankly stated our opinion about the future.
To conclude we beg and entreat you not to grudge to yourselves and to the rest of the Greeks the blessings of liberty and security."
This speech appears to have made a considerable impression on the people, and after the speaker the ambassadors from Philip entered. Leaving the discussion of details over for the present they said they had come with two imperative messages.
If the Aetolians elected for peace the king readily consented, but if not, the ambassadors were bidden of take their leave after calling to witness the gods and the embassies from the rest of Greece that the Aetolians and not Philip must be considered responsible for what might happen afterwards to the Greeks. . . .