Polybius, Histories

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Book 29 - Chapter 9

1
<w lemma="%2Aprosti%2Fqhmi">Προστίθημι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mautou%3D">ἐμαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mwropoiei%3Dsqai">μωροποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="filarguri%2Fan">φιλαργυρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmh%2Fnaito">ἐπισημήναιτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w>, <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flpise">ἤλπισε</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fths">τηλικαύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthtos">ἀλλοτριότητος</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="pisteuqh%2Fsesqai">πιστευθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proslh%2Fyesqai">προσλήψεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenos">δυνάμενος</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="parasxe%2Fsqai">παρασχέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="komidh%3Ds">κομιδῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bebaioi%3D">βεβαιοῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28posxe%2Fseis">ὑποσχέσεις</w>;
3
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fsein">λήσειν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>;
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn">παρόν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="die%2Flaqe">διέλαθε</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%5C">ἀντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="didome%2Fnwn">διδομένων</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%2Fcasqai">ἀλλάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fn">διαφοράν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lhfqe%2Fntwn">ληφθέντων</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="sterh%2Fsesqai">στερήσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pole%2Fmios">πολέμιος</w> <w lemma="fanei%5Cs">φανεὶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcas">πράξας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fsas">ἐπινοήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstous">μεγίστους</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqe">ἦλθε</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="prosh%3Dken">προσῆκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29xqei%2Fshs">ἀχθείσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>;
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fseie">θαυμάσειε</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sumforw%2Fteron">συμφορώτερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="prourgiai%2Fteron">προυργιαίτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fmise">ἐνόμισε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fmata">χρήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapiei%3Dn">καταπιεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dsai">ἐᾶσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnh">Εὐμένη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Flear">δέλεαρ</w>;
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Frghse%2F">συνήργησέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fas">ἐπαγγελίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fluse">διέλυσε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fsis">δόσις</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="dieyeu%2Fsqh">διεψεύσθη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxqran">ἔχθραν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbeblh%2Fkei:">ἐμβεβλήκει·</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="e%29negkei%3Dn">ἐνεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxen">ὑπῆρχεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w>.
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<w lemma="po%2Fsou">πόσου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katorqou%3Dnti">κατορθοῦντι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fonti">πταίοντι</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="sullogi%2Fsasqai:">συλλογίσασθαι·</w>
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fmizen">ἐνόμιζεν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnh">Εὐμένη</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29dunh%2Fqh">ἠδυνήθη</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29mu%2Fnasqai">ἀμύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmion">πολέμιον</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kfanou%3Ds">ἐκφανοῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29logisti%2Fas">ἀλογιστίας</w>; <w lemma="filarguri%2Fa:">φιλαργυρία·</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpeien">εἴπειεν</w>; <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkonta">καθήκοντα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="parew%2Fra">παρεώρα</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnt%27">πάντ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nede%2Fxeto">ἀνεδέχετο</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28peridei%3Dn">ὑπεριδεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenen">ὑπέμενεν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29kolou%2Fqws">ἀκολούθως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftas">Γαλάτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqion">Γένθιον</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* —
I ask myself further on my own part: Does not avarice make fools of us? For who can help observing the folly of both kings? How could Eumenes expect, in view of the extremely distant terms they were on, to be trusted and to receive such a large sum of money, unable as he was to give Perseus any proper security for its return if he failed to fulfil his promises?
And how did he think he could receive such a sum without the Romans finding it out?
For if not at once, they would have done so later.
So that, in return for the money given him, he was sure to have to reckon on a quarrel with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, which would result in the loss not only of the money he had received but of his kingdom and perhaps his life, once he was the declared enemy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
For if now, when he had not done anything but merely had thought of it, he incurred such extreme danger, what was the treatment he would have deserved had he succeeded in carrying out the foregoing design!
As to Perseus again, every one must wonder why he did not think it the most advantageous thing for himself and most in his interest to give the money and let Eumenes swallow the bait.
For if Eumenes had helped him as he promised, and put an end to the war, the gift would have been worth his while;
but if he had been deceived in this hope, he would certainly at least have involved Eumenes in enmity with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, it being in his power to make the transaction public.
And it is easy to see, when we think of it, how valuable this would have been to Perseus, whether he were successful in the war or the reverse.
For he considered Eumenes to have been the cause of all his misfortunes, and he could not have taken more effectual vengeance on him than by making him the enemy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
What, then, was the reason of this evident folly on both sides? Avarice: what else could we say? For the one prince, to receive a gift which dishonoured him, neglect all other considerations, and undertook to do any dirty service; while the other, to save giving it, was ready to suffer any disaster and shut his eyes to all consequences.
Perseus behaved in the same way towards the Galatians and towards Genthius. . . .