<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Adeinokra%2Fths">Δεινοκράτης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnios">Μεσσήνιος</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="presbeuth%5Cs">πρεσβευτὴς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fton">Τίτον</w> <w lemma="presbeuth%5Cn">πρεσβευτὴν</w> <w lemma="kaqestame%2Fnon">καθεσταμένον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Aprousi%2Fan">Προυσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ase%2Fleukon">Σέλευκον</w>, <w lemma="perixarh%5Cs">περιχαρὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29genh%2Fqh">ἐγενήθη</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fton">Τίτον</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fan">φιλίαν</w> —
<w lemma="e%29gego%2Fnei">ἐγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqhs">συνήθης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwniko%5Cn">Λακωνικὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> — <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afilopoi%2Fmena">Φιλοποίμενα</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fn">διαφοράν</w>, <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenon">παραγενόμενον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w>, <w lemma="xeiriei%3Dn">χειριεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parei%5Cs">παρεὶς</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="prosekarte%2Frei">προσεκαρτέρει</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftw%7C">Τίτῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29phrei%2Fsato">ἀπηρείσατο</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>. —
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Adeinokra%2Fths">Δεινοκράτης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnios">Μεσσήνιος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tribh%2Fn">τριβήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29liko%5Cs">αὐλικὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratiwtiko%5Cs">στρατιωτικὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w>.
<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pragmatiko%5Cn">πραγματικὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ffaine">ἐπέφαινε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="te%2Fleion">τέλειον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="yeudepi%2Fgrafos">ψευδεπίγραφος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28wpiko%2Fs">ῥωπικός</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xe%2Freian">εὐχέρειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffere">διέφερε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lampro%5Cs">λαμπρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w>.
<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28mili%2Fais">ὁμιλίαις</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxaris">εὔχαρις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiros">πρόχειρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunousi%2Fas">συνουσίας</w> <w lemma="eu%29tra%2Fpelos">εὐτράπελος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politiko%2Fs">πολιτικός</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="file%2Frastos">φιλέραστος</w>,
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="koinw%3Dn">κοινῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="politikw%3Dn">πολιτικῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29teni%2Fsai">ἀτενίσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proi+de%2Fsqai">προϊδέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fsasqai">παρασκευάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialexqh%3Dnai">διαλεχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnatos">ἀδύνατος</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kekinhkw%5Cs">κεκινηκὼς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w>, <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="w%29%2F%7Ceto">ᾤετο</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gwgh%5Cn">ἀγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dge">ἦγε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w>, <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenos">προορώμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29rw%3Dn">ἐρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwqwnizo%2Fmenos">κωθωνιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kroa%2Fmasi">ἀκροάμασι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29koa%5Cs">ἀκοὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nateqeikw%2Fs">ἀνατεθεικώς</w>.
<w lemma="braxei%3Dan">βραχεῖαν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="i%29dw%5Cn">ἰδὼν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fton">πότον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="makroi%3Ds">μακροῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28mati%2Fois">ἱματίοις</w> <w lemma="o%29rxou%2Fmenon">ὀρχούμενον</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29siw%2Fphse">ἐσιώπησε</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Frion">αὔριον</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontos">ἐντυγχάνοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29ciou%3Dntos">ἀξιοῦντος</w> "
<w lemma="%2A%29egw%5C">Ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="w%29%3D">ὦ</w> <w lemma="%2Adeinokra%2Fth">Δεινοκράτη</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w>" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="poih%2Fsw">ποιήσω</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn:">δυνατόν·</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzw">θαυμάζω</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnh%7C">δύνῃ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fton">πότον</w> <w lemma="o%29rxei%3Dsqai">ὀρχεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftwn">τηλικούτων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="kekinhkw%5Cs">κεκινηκὼς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w>.
" <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="braxu%2F">βραχύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sustalh%3Dnai">συσταλῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29noi%2Fkeion">ἀνοίκειον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fsews">αἱρέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29pode%2Fdwke">ἀποδέδωκε</w>.
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aplh%5Cn">Πλὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftou">Τίτου</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnos">πεπεισμένος</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="xeirisqh%2Fsesqai">χειρισθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flhsin">βούλησιν</w>.
<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="%2Afilopoi%2Fmena">Φιλοποίμενα</w>, <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwko%2Ftes">ἐπεγνωκότες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fan">οὐδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ntolh%5Cn">ἐντολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>, <w lemma="karadokou%3Dntes">καραδοκοῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katapleu%2Fsas">καταπλεύσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Anau%2Fpakton">Ναύπακτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgraye">ἔγραψε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="damiourgoi%3Ds">δαμιουργοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>, <w lemma="keleu%2Fwn">κελεύων</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgein">συνάγειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29nte%2Fgrayan">ἀντέγραψαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsousin">ποιήσουσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fyh%7C">γράψῃ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnwn">τίνων</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="dialexqh%3Dnai">διαλεχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds:">Ἀχαιοῖς·</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousin">ἄρχουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pita%2Fttein">ἐπιτάττειν</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntos">τολμῶντος</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w>, <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Adeinokra%2Ftous">Δεινοκράτους</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdes">ἐλπίδες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%2Fwn">ἀρχαίων</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosfa%2Ftws">προσφάτως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmonos">Λακεδαίμονος</w> <w lemma="e%29kpeptwko%2Ftwn">ἐκπεπτωκότων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftou">Τίτου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fa">παρουσία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fa">προσδοκία</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="die%2Fpesen">διέπεσεν</w>.
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<head>Deinocrates of Messene</head>Deinocrates of Messene, on arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> on a mission from his country and learning that Flamininus had been appointed by the senate its legate to Prusias and Seleucus, was overjoyed, thinking that Flamininus, both owing to his personal friendship with himself — for they had become well acquainted during the war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> — and owing to his difference with Philopoemen, would upon arriving in Greece manage the affairs of Messene entirely as he himself desired.
So neglecting to take any other steps he remained in close attendance on Flamininus and rested all his hopes on him.
Deinocrates of Messene was not only by practice but by nature a soldier and a courtier.
He gave one perfectly the impression of being a capable man, but his capacity was counterfeit and pinchbeck.
For in war, to begin with, he was highly distinguished by his reckless daring, and was magnificent in single combat;
and similarly, as regards his other qualities, his conversation was charming and unembarrassed, and in convivial society he was versatile and urbane and also fond of love-making.
But as regards public or political affairs he was perfectly incapable of concentrated attention and clear insight into the future, as well as of preparing and delivering a speech.
At present, when he had just begun a series of terrible calamities for his country, he simply fancied that his action was of no importance, and went on living in his usual manner, foreseeing nothing of what would happen, but occupied with love affairs, drinking deep from an early hour, and devoted to scenic performances.
Flamininus, however, compelled him to realize in a measure the danger he was in;
for once when he saw him at a party dancing in a long robe, he held his peace at the time, but next day, when Deinocrates came to see him and made some request about Messene, he said, "I, Deinocrates, will do what I can;
but as for you I am surprised how you can dance at parties, after having begun such troubles for Greece." He then for a time appeared to put a check on himself
and realize that he had betrayed in an improper manner his true character and nature. However, he appeared now in Greece with Flamininus,
convinced that he had only to show his face when the affairs of Messene would be arranged as he wished. But Philopoemen, well knowing that Flamininus had no instructions from the senate regarding the affairs of Greece, kept quiet awaiting his arrival, and when, on disembarking at Naupactus, he wrote to the strategus and damiurges of the Achaeans, ordering them to call the general assembly of the Achaeans, they replied that they would do so upon his informing them on what subjects he wished to address the Achaeans; for that was the course imposed on the magistrates by their laws.
As Flamininus did not venture to reply, the hopes of Deinocrates and of the "old exiles" as they were called, who had then quite recently been exiled from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, and in general the expectations created by Flamininus\'s arrival came to nothing.
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Walbank Commentary