Polybius, Histories

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Book 31 - Chapter 11

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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="prospesou%2Fshs">προσπεσούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%7Cre%2Fqh">ἀνῃρέθη</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="presbeuo%2Fntwn">πρεσβευόντων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Alusi%2Fas">Λυσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpemye">ἔπεμψε</w>, <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftwn">παραγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="diaqeme%2Fnwn">διαθεμένων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kekoinwnhke%2Fnai">κεκοινωνηκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhtos">σύγκλητος</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fpempe">παρέπεμπε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%2Fs">πρεσβευτάς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnh">βουλομένη</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnai">διδόναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin">ἀπόφασιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fan">οὐδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kti%2Fqesqai">ἐκτίθεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="ptohqei%5Cs">πτοηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29ggelme%2Fnois">ἠγγελμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="proseka%2Flei">προσεκάλει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbion">Πολύβιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosane%2Fferen">προσανέφερεν</w> <w lemma="diaporw%3Dn">διαπορῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ntuxei%3Dn">ἐντυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftw%7C">συγκλήτῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%2Fn">αὑτόν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="di%5Cs">δὶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqon">λίθον</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fein">πταίειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3D%7C">ἑαυτῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolma%3Dn">τολμᾶν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion:">ἄξιον·</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fein">ὑποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dtas">ἐνεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsas">συννοήσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pesiw%2Fphsen">ἀπεσιώπησεν</w>, <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqwn">συνήθων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwni%2Fw%7C">Ἀπολλωνίῳ</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fdwke">μετέδωκε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fkakos">ἄκακος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="komidh%3D%7C">κομιδῇ</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fos">νέος</w>, <w lemma="sunebou%2Fleue">συνεβούλευε</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou:">συγκλήτου·</w> <w lemma="pepei%3Dsqai">πεπεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ste%2Frhsen">ἐστέρησεν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mhrei%2Fas">ὁμηρείας</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fsein:">ἀπολύσειν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29%2Ftopon">ἄτοπον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paido%5Cs">παιδὸς</w> <w lemma="diadedegme%2Fnou">διαδεδεγμένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fa%7C">Συρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrion">Δημήτριον</w> <w lemma="o%28mhreu%2Fein">ὁμηρεύειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w> <w lemma="peisqei%5Cs">πεισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sh%3Dlqen">εἰσῆλθεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28mhrei%2Fan">ὁμηρείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhs">ἀνάγκης</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fein">ἀπολύειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinan">ἔκριναν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxw%7C">Ἀντιόχῳ</w> <w lemma="sugkataskeua%2Fzein">συγκατασκευάζειν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="dialexqe%2Fntos">διαλεχθέντος</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fmeinen">ἔμεινεν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhtos">σύγκλητος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fsews">αἱρέσεως</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaia">δίκαια</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrion">Δημήτριον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinen">ἔκρινεν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="paidi%5C">παιδὶ</w> <w lemma="sundiafula%2Fttein">συνδιαφυλάττειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frois">σφετέροις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>,
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<w lemma="meno%2Fntwn">μενόντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flhyin">διάληψιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w>.
<head>Escape of Demetrius from Rome</head>At this time when the news arrived of the calamity that had happened to Gnaeus Octavius,
how he had been assassinated, and when the envoys sent by Lysias on behalf of King Antiochus appeared and were profuse in their assurances that the friends of the king had had no part in the deed,
the senate paid scant attention to the embassy, not wishing to pronounce any decision on the matter or to express in any manner their opinion.
But Demetrius, excited by the news, at once sent for Polybius and submitted to him his doubt as to whether or not he should address the senate again on the question of his own situation.
Polybius begged him not to stumble twice on the same stone, but to trust in himself and take some bold course worthy of a throne; for, he said, there were many opportunities for action suggested by the present situation.
Demetrius understood this advice and held his peace for the present, but shortly afterwards communicated with one of his intimate friends, about the same matter.
This man, being of an unsuspecting character and quite young, advised him to try the senate once more, for he felt sure, that as they had unjustly deprived him of his kingdom, they would at least release him from his position as hostage,
since it was quite unreasonable that now, when the young Antiochus had succeeded to the throne of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a>, Demetrius should serve as hostage for him.
Persuaded by this reasoning Demetrius again appeared before the senate and begged the house to release him at least from his obligation as hostage, as they had decided to secure the throne to Antiochus.
After he had spoken at some length in this sense, the senate adhered to its original resolve, as was only to be expected.
For on the former occasion it was not because Demetrius was not right in what he said that they had decided to keep the young king on the throne, but because it suited their own interest.
And as the conditions remained the same, it was to be expected that the decision of the senate should be based on the same policy.