Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 26

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<w lemma="%2Aprw%2Ftous">Πρώτους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsas">συναθροίσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%3Dlqe">εἰσῆλθε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqoklei%2Fas">Ἀγαθοκλείας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pekri%2Fneto">ὑπεκρίνετο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piferome%2Fnwn">ἐπιφερομένων</w> <w lemma="dakru%2Fwn:">δακρύων·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="a%29poma%2Fttwn">ἀπομάττων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="xlamu%2Fdi">χλαμύδι</w> <w lemma="katekra%2Fthse">κατεκράτησε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%3Ds">ἐπιφορᾶς</w>, <w lemma="basta%2Fsas">βαστάσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paidi%2Fon">παιδίον</w> <w lemma="“%2Ala%2Fbete”">“Λάβετε”</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="“tou%3Dton">“τοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="path%5Cr">πατὴρ</w> <w lemma="a%29poqnh%2Fskwn">ἀποθνήσκων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29gka%2Flas">ἀγκάλας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdwke">ἔδωκε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C”">ταύτῃ”</w> <w lemma="dei%2Fcas">δείξας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29delfh%5Cn">ἀδελφὴν</w> <w lemma="“parakate%2Fqeto">“παρακατέθετο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28mete%2Fran">ὑμετέραν</w>, <w lemma="w%29%3D">ὦ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndres">ἄνδρες</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w>, <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w>] <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoia">εὔνοια</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Da%2Fn">βραχεῖάν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="r%28oph%5Cn">ῥοπὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="u%28mi%3Dn">ὑμῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28mete%2Frais">ὑμετέραις</w> <w lemma="xersi%5C">χερσὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Atlhpo%2Flemos">Τληπόλεμος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlos">δῆλος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29rqw%3Ds">ὀρθῶς</w> <w lemma="skopoume%2Fnois">σκοπουμένοις</w> <w lemma="meizo%2Fnwn">μειζόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29fie%2Fmenos">ἐφιέμενος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28auto%5Cn">ἑαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Friken">ὥρικεν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllei">μέλλει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fdhm%27">διάδημ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nalamba%2Fnein”">ἀναλαμβάνειν”</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fein">πιστεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuen">ἐκέλευεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Fsi">εἰδόσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsi">παροῦσι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pw%5Cn">εἰπὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%3Dge">εἰσῆγε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akrito%2Flaon">Κριτόλαον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bwmou%5Cs">βωμοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28wrake%2Fnai">ἑωρακέναι</w> <w lemma="kataskeuazome%2Fnous">κατασκευαζομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fmata">θύματα</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqesin">πλήθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28toimazo%2Fmena">ἑτοιμαζόμενα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="diadh%2Fmatos">διαδήματος</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fdeicin">ἀνάδειξιν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontes">ἀκούοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="h%29le%2Foun">ἠλέουν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="prosei%3Dxon">προσεῖχον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w>, <w lemma="muxqi%2Fzontes">μυχθίζοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diayiquri%2Fzontes">διαψιθυρίζοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29celh%2Frhsan">ἐξελήρησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> [<w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w>] <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fas">ἐκκλησίας</w> <w lemma="a%29pelu%2Fqh">ἀπελύθη</w>.
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<w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fmata">συστήματα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsiasmou%2Fs">ἐκκλησιασμούς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cs">πολὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kataple%2Fwn">καταπλέων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnw">ἄνω</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Floun">παρεκάλουν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="suggenei%3Ds">συγγενεῖς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="periidei%3Dn">περιιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fdhn">ἀνέδην</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29naci%2Fwn">ἀναξίων</w> <w lemma="u%28brizome%2Fnous">ὑβριζομένους</w>.
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<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parw%2Fcune">παρώξυνε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fan">τιμωρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllein">μέλλειν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parakomizome%2Fnwn">παρακομιζομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w>
Agathocles in the first place summoned a meeting of the Macedonians and appeared together with Agathoclea and the young king.
At first he pretended that eh could not say what he wished owing to the abundance of the tears that choked him, but after wiping his eyes many times with his chlamys and subduing the outburst, he took the child in his arms and exclaimed, "Take the child whom his father on his death-bed placed in the arms of this woman," pointing to his sister, "and confided to your faith, you soldiers of Macedon.
Her affection indeed is of but little moment to ensure his safety, but his fate depends on you and your valour.
For it has long been evident to those who judge correctly that Tlepolemus aspires to a position higher than it behoves him to covet, and now he has actually fixed the day and the hour at which he will assume the diadem."
And as to this he told them not to rely on his own word but on that of those who knew the truth and had just come from the very scene of action.
After speaking thus he brought forward Critolaus, who told them that he had himself seen the altars being erected and the victims being prepared in presence of the populace for the ceremony of proclaiming the coronation.
When the Macedonians heard this, not only did they feel no pity for Agathocles but paid absolutely no attention to his words, and showed such levity by hooting and murmuring to each other that he did not know himself how he got away from the meeting.
The same kind of thing took place at the meetings of the other regiments.
Meanwhile numbers of men kept on arriving by boat from the garrisons in upper <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>, and all begged their relatives or friends to help them at the present crisis and not allow them to be thus outrageously tyrannized over by such unworthy persons.
The chief incentive to the soldiery to wreak their vengeance on those in power was their knowledge that any delay was prejudicial to themselves, as Tlepolemus controlled the entire supply of provisions reaching <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a>.