Polybius, Histories

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Book 24 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29nado%2Fntos">ἀναδόντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28uperba%2Ftou">Ὑπερβάτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flion">διαβούλιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnwn">γραφομένων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmonos">Λακεδαίμονος</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Fdou">καθόδου</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aluko%2Frtan">Λυκόρταν</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Floun">παρεκάλουν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%3Dkon">καθῆκον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="sunupakou%2Fontes">συνυπακούοντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29klhrei%3Dn">ἀκληρεῖν</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsin">δοκοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Ftria">μέτρια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29cioume%2Fnwn:">ἀξιουμένων·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fch%7C">διδάξῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parakaloume%2Fnwn">παρακαλουμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnata">ἀδύνατα</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxu%2Fnhn">αἰσχύνην</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Fronta">ἐπιφέροντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhn">βλάβην</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="filonikei%3Dn">φιλονικεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29w%2Fqasin">εἰώθασιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="parabia%2Fzesqai">παραβιάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fch%7C">διδάξῃ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="peiqarxh%2Fswsi">πειθαρχήσωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnois">γραφομένοις</w>, <w lemma="parabh%3Dnai">παραβῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxei">συνέχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="sumpolitei%2Fan">συμπολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsousin">ἀναχωρήσουσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkataqh%2Fsontai">συγκαταθήσονται</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fxomen">ἐπέχομεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraitou%2Fmeqa">παραιτούμεθα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnwn">γραφομένων</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aluko%2Frtan">Λυκόρταν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flegon:">ἔλεγον·</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%28upe%2Frbaton">Ὑπέρβατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akallikra%2Fthn">Καλλικράτην</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnois">γραφομένοις</w> <w lemma="parh%2F%7Cnoun">παρῄνουν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmon">νόμον</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flhn">στήλην</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="mhqe%5Cn">μηθὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkaio%2Fteron">ἀναγκαιότερον</w>.
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<w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntilogi%2Fas">ἀντιλογίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdoce">ἔδοξε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29capostei%3Dlai">ἐξαποστεῖλαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fcontas">διδάξοντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="%2Aluko%2Frtas">Λυκόρτας</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgei">λέγει</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsthsan">κατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akallikra%2Fthn">Καλλικράτην</w> <w lemma="%2Aleonth%2Fsion">Λεοντήσιον</w>, <w lemma="%2Aludia%2Fdan">Λυδιάδαν</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Fthn">Μεγαλοπολίτην</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%2Fnion:">Σικυώνιον·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ntola%5Cs">ἐντολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29kolou%2Fqous">ἀκολούθους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="ei%29selqw%5Cn">εἰσελθὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Akallikra%2Fths">Καλλικράτης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxe">ἀπέσχε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntolai%3Ds">ἐντολαῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kolou%2Fqws">ἀκολούθως</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fskein">διδάσκειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="katabolh%3Ds">καταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pexei%2Frhsen">ἐπεχείρησεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoliteuome%2Fnwn">ἀντιπολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="kathgorei%3Dn">κατηγορεῖν</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w>
<head>The Achaeans and Rome</head>In the same year when Hyperbatus the strategus submitted to the Achaeans' Assembly the question how to act upon the Roman communication regarding the return of the Spartan exiles,
Lycortas advised them to take no steps, because while it was true that the Romans were doing their duty in lending an ear to reasonable requests made by persons whom they regarded as bereft of their rights,
yet if it were pointed out to them that some of these requests were impossible to grant, and others would entail great injury and disgrace on their friends, it was not their habit in such matters to contend that they were right or enforce compliance.
"So," he said, "at present, if it is pointed out to them that we Achaeans by acceding to their written request will violate our oaths, our laws, and the inscribed conventions that hold our League together, they will withdraw their demand and agree that we are right in hesitating and begging to be excused for non-compliance."
Lycortas spoke in this sense; but Hyperbatus and Callicrates were in favour of compliance with the request, saying that neither laws nor inscribed agreements nor anything else should be considered more binding than the will of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
Such being the different views advanced, the Achaeans decided to send envoys to the senate to point out what Lycortas urged,
and they at once appointed Callicrates of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Leontium&groupId=677&placeId=1239">Leontium</a>, Lydiadas of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, and Aratus of Sicyon, and sent them off with instructions conformable to what I have stated.
Upon their arrival in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, Callicrates on entering the senate-house was so far from addressing that body in the terms of his instructions, that on the contrary, from the very outset of his speech, he not only attempted to bring audacious accusations against his political opponents, but to lecture the senate.