Polybius, Histories

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Book 28 - Chapter 13

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<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbion">Πολύβιον</w> <w lemma="katalabo%2Fntes">καταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fas">Θετταλίας</w> <w lemma="kekinhko%2Ftas">κεκινηκότας</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperraibi%2Fas">Περραιβίας</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fontas">στρατοπεδεύοντας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29azwri%2Fou">Ἀζωρίου</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adoli%2Fxhs">Δολίχης</w>,
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fqento">ὑπερέθεντο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="periestw%3Dtas">περιεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsodon">εἴσοδον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="metei%3Dxon">μετεῖχον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmatos">στρατεύματος</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frantos">κατάραντος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleion">Ἡράκλειον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdoce">ἔδοξε</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntos">δοκοῦντος</w> <w lemma="h%29nu%2Fsqai">ἠνύσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="yh%2Ffisma">ψήφισμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amarki%2Fw%7C">Μαρκίῳ</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Fnegkan">προσήνεγκαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffoun">διεσάφουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="boulhqei%3Den">βουληθεῖεν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fdeican">ὑπέδειξαν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="grafe%5Cn">γραφὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="paraggelqe%5Cn">παραγγελθὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29nanti%2Frrhton">ἀναντίρρητον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amarki%2Fou">Μαρκίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29podexome%2Fnou">ἀποδεχομένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="megalwsti%2F">μεγαλωστί</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="paralu%2Fontos">παραλύοντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flloi">ἄλλοι</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="metei%3Dxe">μετεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkios">Μάρκιος</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsas">ἀκούσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ake%2Fntwna">Κέντωνα</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dsqai">αἰτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w>, <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w>, <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="fronti%2Fzein">φροντίζειν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="doqw%3Dsin">δοθῶσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%3Dtai">στρατιῶται</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%3Dto">τηλικοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhma">δαπάνημα</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaion">μάταιον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnhtai">γένηται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds:">Ἀχαιοῖς·</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dn">αἰτεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w>.
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<w lemma="po%2Ftera">πότερα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="khdo%2Fmenos">κηδόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="a%29pragei%3Dn">ἀπραγεῖν</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="xalepo%5Cn">χαλεπὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsas">ἀναχωρήσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="prospeptwko%2Ftwn">προσπεπτωκότων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="sunaxqe%2Fntwn">συναχθέντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%3Dna">Σικυῶνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fblhma">πρόβλημα</w> <w lemma="pamme%2Fgeqes">παμμέγεθες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpese">ἐνέπεσε</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fou">διαβουλίου</w> <w lemma="proteqe%2Fntos">προτεθέντος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ake%2Fntwn">Κέντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%7Ctei%3Dto">ᾐτεῖτο</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkios">Μάρκιος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="fronti%2Fzein">φροντίζειν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29netei%2Flato">ἐνετείλατο</w>, <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="fwti%2Fzein">φωτίζειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinen:">ἔκρινεν·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntile%2Fgein">ἀντιλέγειν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fa%7C">βοηθείᾳ</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfale%2Fs">ἐπισφαλές</w>. <w lemma="dusxrh%2Fstou">δυσχρήστου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flhs">ποικίλης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsato">ἐχρήσατο</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fmati">βοηθήματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgmati">δόγματι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="keleu%2Fonti">κελεύοντι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnois">γραφομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dsin">ποιῶσιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="proskei%2Fmenon">προσκείμενον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmasi">γράμμασι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katekra%2Fthse">κατεκράτησε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpaton">ὕπατον</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="paraluqh%3Dnai">παραλυθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w>.
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnois">βουλομένοις</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fllein">διαβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdwken">ἔδωκεν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fyai">διακόψαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w>. —
Polybius and his colleagues, on finding that the Romans had moved out of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> and were encamped in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Perrhaebia&groupId=870&placeId=1569">Perrhaebia</a> between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Azorium&groupId=386&placeId=726">Azorium</a> and Doliche,
deferred the interview owing to the critical state of affairs, but shared in the danger of the invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.
But when the Roman army had come down to the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heracleium&groupId=625&placeId=1149">Heracleium</a>, and they deemed it time for the interview, as the general seemed to have accomplished the chief part of his task,
they at once, when they had an opportunity, presented the decree to Marcius, and informed him of the determination of the Achaeans to send their total force to share with him in the struggles and dangers of the war. In addition they pointed out to him that all communications and commands which had reached the Achaeans from the Romans during the present war had been duly complied with.
Marcius, while highly gratified by the proposal of the Achaeans, relieved them of the suffering and expense, as under present circumstances he was in no want of the assistance of the allies.
Hereupon the other envoys returned to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>; but Polybius remained and assisted in the campaign, until Marcius, on hearing that Appius Cento was asking the Achaeans to send him five thousand men to Epirus, dispatched Polybius, begging him to see that the soldiers were not given and no such useless outlay inflicted on the Achaeans, as Appius had no sound reason for such a demand.
It is difficult to say whether he acted thus out of regard for the Achaeans, or from the wish to keep Appius idle.
Polybius, in any case, returned to Peloponnesus, and finding that letter from Epirus had already arrived, and that shortly afterwards the Achaean Assembly had met at Sicyon, was faced by a most difficult problem.
For when a resolution was moved about Cento's demand for troops, he thought it by no means proper to reveal the private instructions that Marcius had given him; while on the other hand to oppose openly the project of sending assistance was an exceedingly hazardous course to take.
In this difficult and complicated situation he called to his help for the present the senatus-consultum which enjoined that no one should attend to requests made by commanders, unless they were acting by a decree of the senate,
there being no addition to this effect in the letter. He managed therefore to have the matter referred to the consul, and through the intervention of the latter, to relieve the League of this expense, which amounted to more than a hundred and twenty full talents.
But he furnished those who wished to accuse him to Appius with a good pretext in having thus put a stop to his plan of procuring assistance.