Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 15

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<w lemma="%2A%29%3Dhn">Ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcanta">δόξαντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta:">ταῦτα·</w> <w lemma="presbeu%2Fein">πρεσβεύειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%2Ftas">Ἠπειρώτας</w>, <w lemma="%2Aboiwtou%2Fs">Βοιωτούς</w>, <w lemma="%2Afwke%2Fas">Φωκέας</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%3Dnas">Ἀκαρνᾶνας</w>,
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<w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasafei%3Dn">διασαφεῖν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="di%5Cs">δὶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbeblhko%2Ftes">εἰσβεβληκότες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fhsan">εἴησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fas">ὁμολογίας</w>, <w lemma="prosde%2Fcasqai">προσδέξασθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pile%2Fcai">ἐπιλέξαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibai%2Fnwsin">ἐπιβαίνωσιν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn:">αὐτῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="sunta%2Fcasqai">συντάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsous">ὅσους</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsoi">δεήσοι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>. <w lemma="doca%2Fntwn">δοξάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%5C">Ἀχαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="e%29gkate%2Flipon">ἐγκατέλιπον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="kaqestame%2Fnoi">καθεσταμένοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fas">πρεσβείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pete%2Floun">ἐπετέλουν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fas">Ἀχαΐας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Flege">ἐπέλεγε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="suneta%2Ftteto">συνετάττετο</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fsthma">σύστημα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnas">ἐπιγινομένας</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w>. <w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%2F">Αἰτωλοί</w>,
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<w lemma="paragenome%2Fnhs">παραγενομένης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqhkou%2Fshs">καθηκούσης</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fas">ἐκκλησίας</w>, <w lemma="sunelqo%2Fntes">συνελθόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fsanto">ἐβουλεύσαντο</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w>, <w lemma="kakopragmonou%3Dntes">κακοπραγμονοῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Frein">φθείρειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lumai%2Fnesqai">λυμαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous:">συμμάχους·</w>
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%2Fs">Ἀχαιούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29fistw%3Dntai">ἀφιστῶνται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29yhfi%2Fsanto">ἐψηφίσαντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w>, <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29logw%2Ftaton">ἀλογώτατον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmmaxoi">σύμμαχοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fan">φιλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgoien">ἄγοιεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ph%2Fggellon:">ἐπήγγελλον·</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxqran">ἔχθραν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Flointo">ἕλοιντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Foun">ἐποίουν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnas">μόνας</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptein">πίπτειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fan">ἀδικίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnon">παρηλλαγμένον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirhma%2Ftwn">ἐγχειρημάτων</w>.
The resolution passed by the Achaeans was as follows: To send embassies to the Epirots, Boeotians, Phocians, Acarnanians, and to Philip, pointing out how the Aetolians had twice, in direct breach owing to the treaty, entered <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> in arms, and begging for assistance according to the terms of their alliance and also for the admission of the Messenians into the confederacy. The Strategus of the Achaeans was to levy a force of five thousand foot and five hundred horse, and to go to the assistance of the Messenians, should the Aetolians invade their country.
He was further to arrange with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and Messene how many cavalry and infantry each state should contribute for the needs of the League. Having passed this resolution the Achaeans continued to bear their late reverse bravely, and neither abandoned the Messenians nor their own purpose. The ambassadors sent to the allies executed their instructions, and the Strategus enrolled in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> the number of men decided on, and arranged with the Lacedaemonians and Messenians that they should each send two thousand five hundred foot and two hundred and fifty horse, so that the whole force available for the coming campaign amounted to ten thousand foot and a thousand horse.
The Aetolians, when the time came for their regular annual Assembly to meet, voted to maintain peace with the Lacedaemonians, Messenians and all the other states, with the mischievous design of corrupting and spoiling the allies of the Achaeans. As regards the Achaeans themselves they voted to be at peace with them if they abandoned the Messenian alliance, but if this alliance were maintained to go to war with them. Nothing could have been more unreasonable. For they were themselves allies of both the Achaeans and Messenians, and now if these two states remained in alliance with each other they threatened to declare war on the Achaeans, but they offered a separate peace to the Achaeans if they chose to be at enmity with the Messenians. So that no reasonable explanation can be given of their iniquity, so utterly wrong-headed were their designs.