Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 64

1
<w lemma="%2Ameta%5C">Μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Flhs">Μεγάλης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Flwsin">ἅλωσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="paraxeima%2Fzontos">παραχειμάζοντος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fwn">Ἀργείων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>, <w lemma="sunagagw%5Cn">συναγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29arinh%5Cn">ἐαρινὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fstasqai">ἐνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratia%5Cn">στρατιὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fbalen">ἐνέβαλεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fwn">Ἀργείων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w>, <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdous">εἰσόδους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29rqw%3Ds">ὀρθῶς</w> <w lemma="logizome%2Fnois">λογιζομένοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nounexw%3Ds">νουνεχῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonon">Ἀντίγονον</w> <w lemma="diafeiko%2Fta">διαφεικότα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2F%7Cdei">ᾔδει</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%5Cn">εἰσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kindu%2Fnws">ἀκινδύνως</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsetai">ποιήσεται</w>, <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="katafqeirome%2Fnhs">καταφθειρομένης</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fous">Ἀργείους</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntas">θεωροῦντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29sxa%2Fllein">ἀσχάλλειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katame%2Fmfesqai">καταμέμφεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonon">Ἀντίγονον</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fh">συμβαίη</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pofe%2Frein">ὑποφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pirrapismo%5Cn">ἐπιρραπισμὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="e%29celqei%3Dn">ἐξελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%3Dsai">διακινδυνεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fdhlon">πρόδηλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsei">νικήσει</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mmei%2Fnas">ἐμμείνας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29fhsuxa%2Fzoi">ἀφησυχάζοι</w>, <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenos">καταπληξάμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fais">ἰδίαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="qa%2Frsos">θάρσος</w> <w lemma="e%29nergasa%2Fmenos">ἐνεργασάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="dh%7Coume%2Fnhs">δῃουμένης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxloi">ὄχλοι</w> <w lemma="sustrefo%2Fmenoi">συστρεφόμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonon">Ἀντίγονον</w> <w lemma="e%29loido%2Froun">ἐλοιδόρουν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemonikw%3Ds">ἡγεμονικῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="basilikw%3Ds">βασιλικῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fonos">πλείονος</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w>
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<w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dge">ἦγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="katafqei%2Fras">καταφθείρας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenos">καταπληξάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qarsei%3Ds">εὐθαρσεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pepoihkw%5Cs">πεποιηκὼς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifero%2Fmenon">ἐπιφερόμενον</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqen">ἐπανῆλθεν</w>.
After the capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, while Antigonus was still in winter quarters at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>, Cleomenes at the beginning of spring collected his troops, and after addressing them in terms suitable to the occasion, led them out and invaded <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argolis&groupId=360&placeId=687">Argolis</a>.
Most people think that this was rash and hazardous on his part, owing to the strength of the frontier, but if we judge rightly it was really a safe and wise course.
For as he saw that Antigonus had dismissed his forces, he knew well that, in the first place, he would be exposed to no danger in invading, and secondly, that, if the country were laid waste up to the walls, the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argives&groupId=361&placeId=688">Argives</a> on seeing it would certainly be much vexed and lay the blame on Antigonus.
If, therefore, unable to support the reproaches of the people, he marched out and risked a battle with such forces as he had, the probabilities were in favour of Cleomenes gaining an easy victory;
but if, adhering to his plan, he remained quiet, he thought he could, after terrifying his enemies and inspiring his own troops with fresh courage, effect a safe retreat to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, as actually happened.
For, when the country was being laid waste, the populace held meetings in which they heaped abuse on Antigonus; but he, like a true general and prince, paid no attention to anything but a wise conduct of affairs,
and remained quiet, while Cleomenes, having carried out his intention of devastating the country and thus striking terror into the enemy and encouraging his own troops to face the coming danger, retired in safety to his own country.