Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 16

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%3Dtai">Ἠπειρῶται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsantes">ἀκούσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbewn">πρέσβεων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</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> <w lemma="prose%2Flabon">προσέλαβον</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnois">πεπραγμένοις</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29gana%2Fkthsan">ἠγανάκτησαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29qau%2Fmasan">ἐθαύμασαν</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnwn">εἰθισμένων</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pepoihke%2Fnai">πεποιηκέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29rgi%2Fsqhsan">ὠργίσθησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29yhfi%2Fsanto">ἐψηφίσαντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs:">αὐτούς·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="sunexh%5Cs">συνεχὴς</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fa">ἀδικία</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhs">συγγνώμης</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnei">τυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fou">σπανίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcou">παραδόξου</w> <w lemma="ponhri%2Fas">πονηρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lh%7Csteu%2Fontes">λῃστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmous">πολέμους</w> <w lemma="a%29nepagge%2Fltous">ἀνεπαγγέλτους</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pologi%2Fas">ἀπολογίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="kathci%2Foun">κατηξίουν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkalou%3Dntas">ἐγκαλοῦντας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosexleu%2Fazon">προσεχλεύαζον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dikaiodosi%2Fas">δικαιοδοσίας</w> <w lemma="prokaloi%3Dto">προκαλοῖτο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2Fa">Δία</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="prosfa%2Ftws">προσφάτως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29leuqerwme%2Fnoi">ἠλευθερωμένοι</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>, <w lemma="o%29fei%2Flontes">ὀφείλοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fon">ὑπεναντίον</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w>, <w lemma="diapemya%2Fmenoi">διαπεμψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="la%2Fqra%7C">λάθρᾳ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fan">φιλίαν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29porrh%2Ftwn">ἀπορρήτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqento">ἔθεντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhdh">Ἤδη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pilelegme%2Fnwn">ἐπιλελεγμένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+kw%3Dn">Ἀχαϊκῶν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntetagme%2Fnwn">συντεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="%2Askerdilai+%2Fdas">Σκερδιλαΐδας</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Frios">Φάριος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleusan">ἔπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fdos">Ἰλλυρίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29nenh%2Fkonta">ἐνενήκοντα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbois">λέμβοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fssou">Λίσσου</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Flw%7C">Πύλῳ</w> <w lemma="prosmi%2Fcantes">προσμίξαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="prosbola%5Cs">προσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fpeson:">ἀπέπεσον·</w>
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbwn">λέμβων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fswn">νήσων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="periple%2Fwn">περιπλέων</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29rgurolo%2Fgei">ἠργυρολόγει</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akukla%2Fdwn:">Κυκλάδων·</w>
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<w lemma="%2Askerdilai+%2Fdas">Σκερδιλαΐδας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkou">οἴκου</w> <w lemma="prosei%3Dxe">προσεῖχε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Anau%2Fpakton">Ναύπακτον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbwn">λέμβων</w>, <w lemma="peisqei%5Cs">πεισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amuna%3D%7C">Ἀμυνᾷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqama%2Fnwn">Ἀθαμάνων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxane">ἐτύγχανε</w> <w lemma="khdesth%5Cs">κηδεστὴς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>.
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<w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agela%2Fou">Ἀγελάου</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="merismou%3D">μερισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fsxeto">ὑπέσχετο</w> <w lemma="sunembalei%3Dn">συνεμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28mo%2Fse">ὁμόσε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</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="sunqe%2Fmenoi">συνθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Askerdilai+%2Fdan">Σκερδιλαΐδαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29age%2Flaon">Ἀγέλαον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpan">Σκόπαν</w>, <w lemma="prattome%2Fnhs">πραττομένης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqe%2Fwn">Κυναιθέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsantes">συναθροίσαντες</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fbalon">ἐνέβαλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w>
Epirots and Philip, after listening to the envoys, agreed to receive the Messenians into the alliance. They felt a momentary indignation at the proceedings of the Aetolians, but were not deeply shocked at them, as the Aetolians had not acted in a manner to surprise anyone, but simply as is their habit.
Consequently their resentment was of brief duration, and they voted to remain at peace with the Aetolians. So true is it that persistent wrongdoing is more readily pardoned than occasional and startling acts of iniquity. The Aetolians at least, continuing to behave in this manner, constantly pillaging Greece and committing frequent act of war without declaration, not only never thought it worth the trouble to defend themselves against complaints, but ridiculed anyone who called them to account for their past offences or even for their future designs. As for the Lacedaemonians, though they had been so recently set free through Antigonus, and through the spirited action of the Achaeans, and should not have in any way acted against the Macedonians and Philip, they sent privately to the Aetolians and made a secret alliance with them.
The Achaean levy had been enrolled, and the Lacedaemonians and Messenians had contracted to send their contingents, when Scerdilaïdas, together with Demetrius of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharos&groupId=879&placeId=1586">Pharos</a>, sailed from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> with a fleet of ninety boats and passed Lissus, thus breaking the treaty with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. They touched first at Pylos and made some attacks on it which failed. Demetrius now with fifty of the boats started for the islands, and sailing through the Cyclades pillaged or levied blackmail on some of them. Scerdilaïdas on his voyage home touched at Naupactus with his forty boats at the request of Amynas, the king of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athamania&groupId=377&placeId=710">Athamania</a>, who was his connexion by marriage.
Here, having come to terms with the Aetolians through Agelaus about the division of the spoil, he promised to join them in invading <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>. Agelaus, Dorimachus, and Scopas were negotiating for the betrayal to them of the city of Cynaetha, and having made this arrangement with Scerdilaïdas, they collected the Aetolian forces en masse and invaded <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> with the Illyrians.