Polybius, Histories

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Book 24 - Chapter 7

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmoni">Λακεδαίμονι</w> <w lemma="%2Axai%2Frwn">Χαίρων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxane">ἐτύγχανε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftei">ἔτει</w> <w lemma="pepresbeukw%5Cs">πεπρεσβευκὼς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w> <w lemma="a%29gxi%2Fnous">ἀγχίνους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktiko%2Fs">πρακτικός</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fos">νέος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tapeino%5Cs">ταπεινὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhmotikh%3Ds">δημοτικῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwgh%3Ds">ἀγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="teteuxw%2Fs">τετευχώς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="o%29xlagwgw%3Dn">ὀχλαγωγῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fsas">κινήσας</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="mhqei%5Cs">μηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteros">ἕτερος</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrei">ἐθάρρει</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="periepoih%2Fsato">περιεποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="fantasi%2Fan">φαντασίαν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="a%29felo%2Fmenos">ἀφελόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Frannoi">τύραννοι</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhsan">συνεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28poleifqei%2Fsais">ὑπολειφθείσαις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w> <w lemma="a%29delfai%3Ds">ἀδελφαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gunaici%5C">γυναιξὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhtra%2Fsi">μητράσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknois">τέκνοις</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="die%2Fdwke">διέδωκε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="leptoi%3Ds">λεπτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29ni%2Fsws">ἀνίσως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan:">ἐξουσίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="koinoi%3Ds">κοινοῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29cedapa%2Fna">ἐξεδαπάνα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proso%2Fdous">προσόδους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmou">νόμου</w> <w lemma="stoxazo%2Fmenos">στοχαζόμενος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="koinou%3D">κοινοῦ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgmatos">δόγματος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxontos">ἄρχοντος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="a%29ganakth%2Fsantes">ἀγανακτήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29spou%2Fdazon">ἐσπούδαζον</w> <w lemma="katastaqh%3Dnai">κατασταθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dokimasth%3Dres">δοκιμαστῆρες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="koinw%3Dn">κοινῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Axai%2Frwn">Χαίρων</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneidw%5Cs">συνειδὼς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="kexeiriko%2Fti">κεχειρικότι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstaton">ἐπιφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dokimasth%2Frwn">δοκιμαστήρων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwni%2Fdan">Ἀπολλωνίδαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29reunh%3Dsai">ἐρευνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29poporeuo%2Fmenon">ἀποπορευόμενον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="balanei%2Fou">βαλανείου</w> <w lemma="prospe%2Fmyas">προσπέμψας</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29ceke%2Fnthsen">ἐξεκέντησεν</w>.
7
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntwn">προσπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="a%29ganakth%2Fsantos">ἀγανακτήσαντος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fsin">γεγονόσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Axai%2Frwna">Χαίρωνα</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fgagen">παρήγαγεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnou">φόνου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwni%2Fdan">Ἀπολλωνίδαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katakri%2Fnas">κατακρίνας</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="de%2Fsmion">δέσμιον</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="dokimasth%3Dras">δοκιμαστῆρας</w> <w lemma="parw%2Fcune">παρώξυνε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="zh%2Fthsin">ζήτησιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dhmosi%2Fwn">δημοσίων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%2Fn">ἀληθινήν</w>, <w lemma="fronti%2Fsai">φροντίσαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="komi%2Fsasqai">κομίσασθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fas">οὐσίας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fous">ἀναγκαίους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Axai%2Frwn">Χαίρων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29fei%2Fleto">ἀφείλετο</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w>. —
<head>Chaeron of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> (Cp. Suid.)</head>Just about the same time there was in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> a certain Chaeron, who had been a member of the embassy to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in the previous year. He was a sharp and able man, but he was young and of humble station, and had received a vulgar education.
This man, courting the mob and making innovations upon which no one else ventured, soon acquired some reputation with the populace.
The first thing he did was to take away from the sisters, wives, mothers, and children that the exiles had left behind them the property granted them by the tyrants, and distribute it among men of slender means at random, unfairly, and just as he chose.
After this he began to use public moneys as if they were his own, and spent all the revenue without reference to laws, public decrees, or magistrates.
Some citizens were indignant at this and took steps to get themselves appointed auditors of the public accounts as the law enjoined.
Chaeron, seeing this and conscious that he had misused the public funds, when Apollonidas, the most notable of the auditors and most capable of exposing his rapacity, was one day in broad daylight on his way from a bath, sent some men and killed him.
Upon this becoming known to the Achaeans, the people were exceedingly indignant, and the strategus started off at once for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, where he put Chaeron on his trial for the murder of Apollonidas, and upon his being found guilty, put him in prison,
encouraging at the same time the other auditors to inquire seriously into the management of the public funds and to see that the relatives of the exiles recovered the property of which Chaeron had recently robbed them.