Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 29 - Chapter 8

1
<w lemma="pi%2Fda">πίδα</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>. <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="katarxh%5C">καταρχὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="e%29piplokh%3Ds">ἐπιπλοκῆς</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai:">γεγονέναι·</w>
2
<w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sugkrinome%2Fnwn">συγκρινομένων</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="panourgota%2Ftou">πανουργοτάτου</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntos">δοκοῦντος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="filargurwta%2Ftou">φιλαργυρωτάτου</w>, <w lemma="geloi%2Fan">γελοίαν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diama%2Fxhn">διαμάχην</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
3
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnhs">Εὐμένης</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fteine">προύτεινε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="dele%2Fatos">δελέατος</w> <w lemma="u%28perri%2Fptei">ὑπερρίπτει</w>, <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnos">πεπεισμένος</w> <w lemma="qhreu%2Fsein">θηρεύσειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fais:">ἐπαγγελίαις·</w>
4
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="makro%2Fqen">μακρόθεν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frma">ὥρμα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proteino%2Fmena">προτεινόμενα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneti%2Fqeto">συνετίθετο</w>, <w lemma="katapiei%3Dn">καταπιεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fs">οἷός</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsqai">προέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w>.
5
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="palaisma%2Ftwn">παλαισμάτων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnhs">Εὐμένης</w> <w lemma="h%29%2F%7Ctei">ᾔτει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftarton">τέταρτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sustrateu%3Dsai">συστρατεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="pentako%2Fsia">πεντακόσια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dialu%3Dsai">διαλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flia">χίλια</w> <w lemma="pentako%2Fsia">πεντακόσια</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fsein">δώσειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fxos">τάχος</w> <w lemma="u%28pisxnei%3Dto">ὑπισχνεῖτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fsteis">πίστεις</w>.
6
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29de%2Fxeto">ἐδέχετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frwn">ὁμήρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fsa">πόσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpesqai">πέμπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dsqai">τηρεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aknwsi%2Fois:">Κνωσίοις·</w>
7
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fwn">πεντακοσίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxro%5Cn">αἰσχρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffhsen">ἔφησεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnti">διδόντι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnonti">λαμβάνοντι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="misqou%3D">μισθοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flia">χίλια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pentako%2Fsia">πεντακόσια</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmyein">πέμψειν</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontas">φέροντας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolemokra%2Fthn">Πολεμοκράτην</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asamoqra%2F%7Ckhn">Σαμοθρᾴκην</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%3D">κἀκεῖ</w> <w lemma="mesiteu%2Fsein">μεσιτεύσειν</w>. <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Asamoqra%2F%7Ckhs">Σαμοθρᾴκης</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios:">κύριος·</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnhs">Εὐμένης</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w>,
8
<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="moxqhroi%5C">μοχθηροὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29atrw%3Dn">ἰατρῶν</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fdoma">πρόδομα</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="misqo%5Cn">μισθὸν</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29dunath%2Fsas">ἀδυνατήσας</w> <w lemma="katagwni%2Fsasqai">καταγωνίσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fra%7C">σφετέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="panourgi%2Fa%7C">πανουργίᾳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="mikrologi%2Fan">μικρολογίαν</w>.
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsantes">ποιήσαντες</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ste%2Ffanon">στέφανον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="filarguri%2Fas">φιλαργυρίας</w> <w lemma="dielu%2Fqhsan">διελύθησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fshs">ἴσης</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqoi%5C">ἀγαθοὶ</w> <w lemma="palaistai%2F">παλαισταί</w>.
10
<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29cerru%2Fh">ἐξερρύη</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnous">παρακειμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29cepoi%2Fhse">ἐξεποίησε</w> <w lemma="puqe%2Fsqai">πυθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="kaki%2Fas">κακίας</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="pattalei%3Do%2Fn">πατταλεῖόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="filarguri%2Fa">φιλαργυρία</w>.
This, I think, was the beginning of their overtures to each other; and as it was a match between two princes, one of whom had the reputation of being most unprincipled and the other most avaricious, the contest proved very ridiculous.
For Eumenes on the one hand was holding out all kinds of hopes to Perseus and tempting him with every variety of bait, feeling sure he would catch him by his promises;
while Perseus from a distance pretended to rush at these offers and to be coming to an agreement, but could never persuade himself to swallow any of the baits to the extent of making a sacrifice of money.
The kind of tussle between the two was as follows. Eumenes asked five hundred talents for keeping quiet in the fourth year of the war and not supporting the Romans either by sea or by land, and fifteen hundred talents for putting an end to the war. For either of the two he promised to give at once hostages and security.
Perseus was ready to receive the hostages, and arranged how many they should be, when they should be sent and how they were to be kept in charge by the people of Cnosus.
As for the money, he said regarding the five hundred talents that it was disgraceful for the giver and still more so for the receiver to be thought to be hired to keep neutral; but he said have would send Polemocrates to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samothrace&groupId=945&placeId=1681">Samothrace</a> with the fifteen hundred talents and then mediate there, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samothrace&groupId=945&placeId=1681">Samothrace</a> being part of his own dominions.
But Eumenes who, like bad physicians, was more concerned about his retaining fee than about his final fee, renounced his efforts, having found it beyond his power to get the better by his own cunning of the meanness of Perseus;
and so, neither of them winning the prize for avarice, they made a drawn match of it like two good wrestlers.
Some of these facts leaked out at the time and others shortly afterwards to the intimate friends of Perseus, from whom I learnt enough to convince me that avarice is, as it were, the tuning-peg of every vice.