Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 4

1
<w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amediw%2Fnioi">Μεδιώνιοι</w> <w lemma="teteuxo%2Ftes">τετευχότες</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstou">ἀνελπίστου</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%28qroisqe%2Fntes">ἁθροισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fonto">ἐβουλεύοντο</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%3Ds">ἐπιγραφῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fdocen">ἔδοξεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2F">ἀπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="proporeuome%2Fnwn">προπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w>,
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fthdes">ἐπίτηδες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29ndeiknume%2Fnhs">ἐνδεικνυμένης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="prosedo%2Fkwn">προσεδόκων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="pei%2Fsesqai">πείσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdwken">παρέδωκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="sumfora%3D%7C">συμφορᾷ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29di%2Fdacan">ἐδίδαξαν</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpote">μηδέποτε</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> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w>, <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="prokatelpi%2Fzein">προκατελπίζειν</w> <w lemma="bebaioume%2Fnous">βεβαιουμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndexo%2Fmeno%2Fn">ἐνδεχόμενόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fmein">νέμειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="pantaxh%3D%7C">πανταχῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w>, <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fagrwn">Ἄγρων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fpleusan">κατέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w>, <w lemma="diakou%2Fsas">διακούσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perixarh%5Cs">περιχαρὴς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="fro%2Fnhma">φρόνημα</w> <w lemma="nenikhke%2Fnai">νενικηκέναι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fqas">μέθας</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="eu%29wxi%2Fas">εὐωχίας</w> <w lemma="trapei%5Cs">τραπεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpesen">ἐνέπεσεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pleuri%3Dtin:">πλευρῖτιν·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgais">ὀλίγαις</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="meth%2Fllace">μετήλλαξε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="gunh%5C">γυνὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Ateu%2Fta">Τεύτα</w> <w lemma="diadecame%2Fnh">διαδεξαμένη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstews">πίστεως</w>.
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<w lemma="xrwme%2Fnh">χρωμένη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="gunaikei%2Fois">γυναικείοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%29tu%2Fxhma">εὐτύχημα</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29poble%2Fpousa">ἀποβλέπουσα</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="periskeptome%2Fnh">περισκεπτομένη</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhse">συνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fousi">πλέουσι</w> <w lemma="lh%2F%7Czesqai">λῄζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w>,
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<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsasa">ἁθροίσασα</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29podei%2Fcasa">ἀποδείξασα</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fan">πολεμίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>.
The Medionians, thus unexpectedly saved, met in assembly and discussed, among other matters, that of the proper inscription for the shields.
They decided, in parody of the Aetolian decree, to inscribe them as won from and not by the present Aetolian chief magistrate and the candidates for next year's office.
It seemed as if what had befallen this people was designed by Fortune to display her might to men in general.
For in so brief a space of time she put it in their power to do to the enemy the very thing which they thought the enemy were just on the point of doing to themselves.
The unlooked-for calamity of the Aetolians was a lesson to mankind never to discuss the future as if it were the present, or to have any confident hope about things that may still turn out quite otherwise. We are but men, and should in every matter assign its share to the unexpected, this being especially true of war.
King Agron, when the flotilla returned and his officers gave him an account of the battle, was so overjoyed at the thought of having beaten the Aetolians, then the proudest of peoples, that he took to carousals and other convivial excesses, from which he fell into a pleurisy that ended fatally in a few days.
He was succeeded on the throne by his wife Teuta, who left the details of administration to friends on whom she relied.
As, with a woman's natural shortness of view, she could see nothing but the recent success and had no eyes for what was going on elsewhere, she in the first place gave letters of marque to privateers to pillage any ships they met,
and next she collected a fleet and force of troops as large as the former one and sent it out, ordering the commanders to treat all countries alike as belonging to their enemies.