Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 17

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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriw%3Dn">Ἰλλυριῶν</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29ari%2Fstwn">Ἀρίστων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="prospoiou%2Fmenos">προσποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnwn">γινομένων</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dge">ἦγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskwn">φάσκων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="diathrei%3Dn">διατηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w>, <w lemma="eu%29%2Fhqes">εὔηθες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paidiko%5Cn">παιδικὸν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn:">ποιῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="eu%29h%2Fqh">εὐήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaion">μάταιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnesqai">φαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnh%7C">ὑπολαμβάνῃ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pikru%2Fyasqai">ἐπικρύψασθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29nargei%2Fas">ἐναργείας</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaia%2Ftidos">Ἀχαιάτιδος</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fnaiqan">Κύναιθαν</w>.
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<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqei%3Ds">Κυναιθεῖς</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arka%2Fdas">Ἀρκάδας</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnwn">χρόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29katapau%2Fstois">ἀκαταπαύστοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flais">μεγάλαις</w> <w lemma="sunesxh%3Dsqai">συνεσχῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsesi">στάσεσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="pepoih%3Dsqai">πεποιῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfaga%5Cs">σφαγὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fs">φυγάς</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%28rpaga%5Cs">ἁρπαγὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28parxo%2Fntwn">ὑπαρχόντων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmou%2Fs">ἀναδασμούς</w>, <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%3Dsai">ἐπικρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%28roume%2Fnous">αἱρουμένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasxei%3Dn">κατασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fas">Ἀχαΐας</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w>, <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgois">ὀλίγοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmprosqen">ἔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w> <w lemma="diapempome%2Fnwn">διαπεμπομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnwn">δεομένων</w> <w lemma="dialuqh%3Dnai">διαλυθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fgein">κατάγειν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w>,
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<w lemma="peisqe%2Fntes">πεισθέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontes">κατέχοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pre%2Fsbeuon">ἐπρέσβευον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w>.
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[<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>] <w lemma="e%29pixwrhsa%2Fntwn">ἐπιχωρησάντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pepei%3Dsqai">πεπεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsin">σφίσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frous">ἀμφοτέρους</w> <w lemma="eu%29noh%2Fsein">εὐνοήσειν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katexo%2Fntwn">κατεχόντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kataporeuome%2Fnwn">καταπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnein">τυγχάνειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="sugkata%2Fqesin">συγκατάθεσιν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29postei%2Flantes">ἀποστείλαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parafulakh%5Cn">παραφυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqei%3Ds">Κυναιθεῖς</w> <w lemma="dielu%2Fsanto">διελύσαντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fgagon">κατήγαγον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdas">φυγάδας</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fsteis">πίστεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="nomizome%2Fnwn">νομιζομένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29sxurota%2Ftas">ἰσχυροτάτας</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katanosth%2Fsantes">κατανοστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fsews">προφάσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="diafora%3Ds">διαφορᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="gegenh%3Dsqai">γεγενῆσθαι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fon">ἐναντίον</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="katelqo%2Fntes">κατελθόντες</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pebou%2Fleuon">ἐπεβούλευον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fsasi">σώσασι</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sfagi%2Fwn">σφαγίων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fsteis">πίστεις</w> <w lemma="e%29di%2Fdosan">ἐδίδοσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dianoei%3Dsqai">διανοεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qei%3Don">θεῖον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fsantas">πιστεύσαντας</w> <w lemma="a%29sebei%2Fas">ἀσεβείας</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pespw%3Dnto">ἐπεσπῶντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratton">ἔπραττον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdontes">σπεύδοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fsantas">σώσαντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qre%2F">θρέ</w>
Meanwhile <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ariston&groupId=365&placeId=695">Ariston</a>, the Aetolian Strategus, in pretended ignorance of what was going on, kept quiet in Aetolia, asserting that he was not making war on the Achaeans but keeping the peace; which was most foolish and childish on his part. For it is obvious that a man who thinks he can cloak by words the clear evidence of facts must be regarded as a foolish and futile person.
Dorimachus, marching through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, appeared suddenly before Cynaetha. The people of Cynaetha, who are Arcadians, had been for many years vexed by the never-ending and embittered strife of factions; there had been constant massacres, expulsions, robbery of goods, and confiscation of lands by the one party or the other, and now at length the Achaean party had the upper hand and were in possession of the city, the Achaeans furnishing them with a garrison to hold the walls and a military governor of the city.
Such was the state of affairs, when a short time before the arrival of the Aetolians, upon the exiles sending frequent messages to those in the city entreating them to be reconciled and permit them to return home,
the party in possession sent envoys to the Achaean League, wishing the reconciliation to be with their consent.
The Achaeans readily agreed, as they felt sure that they would thus gain the goodwill of both factions, since those who were masters of the city were entirely devoted to them and the home-coming exiles would owe their safe return to the consent of the League. Accordingly, the Cynaetheans dismissed the garrison and commandant from the city and recalled the exiles, who numbered about three hundred, exacting from them such pledges as are generally regarded among mankind as most binding. But these repatriated citizens, not because they had any cause or pretext subsequent to their readmission for suspecting that other contentions were imminent, but on the contrary from the very moment of their return, set about conspiring against their city and their preservers. I am even inclined to think that at the very instant when they were mutually pledging their faith by solemn oaths over the sacrifice, their minds were full of the impious project of breaking their faith to heaven and to those who trusted in them. For no sooner were they again associated in the government than they began to solicit the Aetolians and of to betray the city to them, taking the safest and swiftest means of bringing to utter destruction those to whom they owed their safety and the city in whose lap they had been nourished.