Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 31

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhdh">Ἤδη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="u%28pofainou%2Fshs">ὑποφαινούσης</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkritos">ἄκριτος</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%2F">κραυγή</w>, <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flamye">ἐξέλαμψε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dn">καλεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="e%29canasta%2Fntes">ἐξαναστάντες</w> <w lemma="katela%2Fbonto">κατελάβοντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xrhmatistiko%5Cn">χρηματιστικὸν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dna">πυλῶνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fwn:">βασιλείων·</w>
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pigno%2Fntes">ἐπιγνόντες</w> <w lemma="pou%3D">ποῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29lh%3Ds">αὐλῆς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="perielqo%2Fntes">περιελθόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> [<w lemma="prw%2Fths">πρώτης</w>] <w lemma="su%2Friggos">σύριγγος</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbalon">ἐξέβαλον</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fras">θύρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsantes">ἐγγίσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fras">δευτέρας</w> <w lemma="h%29%7Ctou%3Dnto">ᾐτοῦντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pai%3Dda">παῖδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%3Ds">κραυγῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w>, <w lemma="ble%2Fpontes">βλέποντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs">αὑτούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29de%2Fonto">ἐδέοντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="swmatofula%2Fkwn">σωματοφυλάκων</w> <w lemma="presbeu%3Dsai">πρεσβεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w>, <w lemma="dhlou%3Dntas">δηλοῦντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pitropei%2Fas">ἐπιτροπείας</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrou%3Dsi">ἐκχωροῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fas">ἐξουσίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="timw%3Dn">τιμῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fwn">χορηγίων</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pneuma%2Ftion">πνευμάτιον</w> <w lemma="de%2Fontai">δέονται</w> <w lemma="sugxwrhqh%3Dnai">συγχωρηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fas">ἀναγκαίας</w> <w lemma="trofh%3Ds">τροφῆς</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="xwrh%2Fsantes">χωρήσαντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="boulhqe%2Fntes">βουληθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnwntai">δύνωνται</w> <w lemma="lupei%3Dn">λυπεῖν</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="swmatofula%2Fkwn">σωματοφυλάκων</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%2Fkousen">ὑπήκουσεν</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29aristome%2Fnhs">Ἀριστομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fsth">ὑπέστη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fn">Ἀκαρνάν</w>,
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<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="probai%2Fnwn">προβαίνων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w>, <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>, <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="semno%2Ftata">σεμνότατα</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="prosth%3Dnai">προστῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="kekolakeuke%2Fnai">κεκολακευκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fous">Ἀγαθοκλέους</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28auto%5Cn">ἑαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dpnon">δεῖπνον</w> <w lemma="kale%2Fsas">καλέσας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="xrusou%3Dn">χρυσοῦν</w> <w lemma="ste%2Ffanon">στέφανον</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fdwke">ἀνέδωκε</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnw%7C">μόνῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="basileu%3Dsin">βασιλεῦσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dsqai">συγχωρεῖσθαι</w>,
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<w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fna">εἰκόνα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frein">φέρειν</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flmhsen">ἐτόλμησεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="daktuli%2Fw%7C:">δακτυλίῳ·</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qugatro%5Cs">θυγατρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqo%2Fkleian">Ἀγαθόκλειαν</w> <w lemma="proshgo%2Freusen">προσηγόρευσεν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29carkei%3D">ἐξαρκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fna:">εἰρημένα·</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="e%29ntola%5Cs">ἐντολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="r%28inopu%2Flhs">ῥινοπύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29celqw%2Fn">ἐξελθών</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w>.
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<w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="dialexqe%2Fntos">διαλεχθέντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlw%2Fsantos">δηλώσαντος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="sugkenth%3Dsai">συγκεντῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinwn">τινων</w> <w lemma="u%28perexo%2Fntwn">ὑπερεχόντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraithsame%2Fnwn">παραιτησαμένων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%2Fs">πολλούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqe">ἐπανῆλθε</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29ntolh%5Cn">ἐντολὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgonq%27">ἄγονθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkein">ἥκειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29cie%2Fnai">ἐξιέναι</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aristome%2Fnhn">Ἀριστομένην</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29po%2Fntes">εἰπόντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fpemyan">ἀπέπεμψαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="deute%2Frais">δευτέραις</w> <w lemma="qu%2Frais">θύραις</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsantes">ἐγγίσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fwsan">ἐξέωσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergoume%2Fnwn">ἐνεργουμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29pokri%2Fsews">ἀποκρίσεως</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fras">θύρας</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnantes">προτείναντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqo%2Fkleia">Ἀγαθόκλεια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="masqou%2Fs">μασθούς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fyai">θρέψαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w>, <w lemma="dei%3Dsqai">δεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="proi+e%2Fmenoi">προϊέμενοι</w> <w lemma="fwnh%5Cn">φωνὴν</w>
When the day began to break it was difficult to distinguish the various cries, but that of "Bring the king" predominated.
At first the Macedonians got up and seized the gate of audience of the palace,
but shortly after, when they discovered in what part of the building the king was, they went round and after taking the first door of the gallery off its hinges approached the second and clamoured loudly for the king.
Agathocles was looking now to his own safety and begged the bodyguards to convey a message on his behalf to the Macedonians, stating that he abandoned the office of regent and all his powers and dignities as well as all his revenue,
and begged simply for his poor life and a sufficient supply of food, so that retiring into his original obscurity he could not in future, even if he wished it, hurt anyone.
None of the other bodyguards consented, but Aristomenes alone, who afterwards became minister, undertook this service.
He was by birth an Acarnanian, and the adulation he had paid to Agathocles in the season of his prosperity was no less conspicuous than his admirable and scrupulous fidelity to the interests of the king and his kingdom when in later life he was at the head of affairs.
For he was the first who having invited Agathocles to dinner presented to him alone among the guests a crown of gold, an honour which is customarily paid only to the king,
and he was the first who ventured to wear a ring with Agathocles' portrait engraved on it, and when a daughter was born to him he actually called her Agathoclea.
Perhaps regarding his character I have said enough; but now when he had received Agathocles' commission he went out by a wicket-gate to the Macedonians.
After he had said a few words to them and explained the proposal, the Macedonians at once attempted to run him through, but when some few persons held their hands over him and begged them to spare him, he went back with orders either to return to them bringing the king or not to come out at all.
Aristomenes, then, was send back by the Macedonians with this message, and they themselves came up to the second door and broke it in also.
Agathocles and his people, seeing the violence of the Macedonians both by their actions and their determined demand, at first attempted to entreat the soldiers, leaving no word unspoken that might move them to spare their lives at least, Agathocles putting out his hands through the door and Agathoclea her breasts with which she said she had suckled the king.